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OR, 



Life of Deborah Sampson 



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The Female Review 
LIFE OF 

Deborah Sampson 

THE FEMALE SOLDIER 



IN THE 



Wm of \%t Eel^olutiou 

WITH 

AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 

BY 

JOHN ADAMS VINTON 




1 "^*'"*7 



■>- T i-s^'^'-^ 



iSostou 

J. K. WIGGIN & WM. PARSONS LUNT 



M DCCC LXVI 



Ell?" 



1 



Entered, according to AS. of Congrefs, in the year 1866, by 

WIGGIN & LUNT, 

In the Clerk's Office of the Diftrid Court of the Diflria of Maffachufetts. 



Press of Geo. C. Rand & Avery. 






EDITION: 

Two hundred and fifty Copies, Small Quarto. 
Thirty-five Copies, Royal Quarto. 



INTRODUCTION 



THE American Revolution was a great event. Thirteen 
feeble colonies, scattered along more than a thousand 
miles of seacoast, and vulnerable at every point, dared 
to resist the colossal power of one of the oldest and strong- 
est monarchies of the world. Without adequate preparation, 
without a general government, without a revenue, without a 
navy, and almost without an army, or the means of keeping 
an army together, they entered the fearful struggle, and, by the 
help of God, prevailed. All well-authenticated facts, even the 
most minute, connected with this great struggle, possess a deep 
and an enduring interest. Every individual history included 
in that great drama serves to help out and enlarge our idea 
of what was then transacted. 

Viewed in this light, the story of Deborah Sampson will be 
found worthy of attentive consideration. It is sufficiently roman- 
tic in itself; but, considered as a tale of Revolutionary times, it 
is entitled to special regard. It affords, to some extent, a picture 
of those times, and opens before us scenes of trial and hard- 
ship, of patriotism and fortitude, that enable us better to con- 
ceive of that great conflict. 

The general credit of the facts record^ed in this volume cannot 
be shaken. It is sustained by tradition yet freshly existing in 



IX 






X INTRODUCTION. 

Middleborough and the vicinity ; by the Records of the First 
Baptist Church in that town ; by the Resolve of the Legislature 
of Massachusetts, in 1792 ; by the Records of the Pension Of- 
fice of the United States ; by the act of Congress, granting her 
pension to the heirs of Deborah Gannett ; by the obituary notice 
published in the papers after her death ; and, lastly, by the list 
of subscribers to " The Female Review." Many of these sub- 
scribers were highly respectable gentlemen, resident in Middle- 
borough, Sharon, Stoughton, Dedham, Walpole, Wrentham, 
Providence, and other towns in the vicinity. Clergymen, phy- 
sicians, lawyers, merchants, and other intelligent men, would not 
have subscribed for such a work, but for its substantial verity. 

The story of our heroine has found a place, more or less en- 
larged, in " Allen's Biographical Dictionary," third edition ; in 
Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale's " Biography of Distinguished Wo- 
men ; " in Mrs. Elizabeth F. Ellet's " Women of the American 
Revolution ; " and in some other publications.* In several of 
these volumes, minor inaccuracies may be found ; but the main 
facts have never been called in question. 

The editor remembers to have heard of this remarkable case 
full fifty years ago, in his childhood, when living in Brairwtree, 
midway between Boston and Middleborough. He has since 
made it a subject of careful and prolonged investigation. 

The story, concisely told, is as follows : Deborah Sampson 
left her home in Middleborough, Mass., in May, 1782, being 
then in her twenty-second year. She assumed the masculine 
garb ; enlisted as a Continental soldier ; was mustered into the 

* Some years ago, as the editor memoirs of eminent colored women, 
has been informed, a volume made and Deborah Sampson was claimed 
its appearance, professing to give as one of the number ! 



INTRODUCTION. xi 

service at Worcester ; joined the army at West Point ; per- 
formed the duties of a soldier with more than ordinary alertness, 
gallantry, and fortitude ; participated in several engagements, 
in one of which she was wounded ; though mingling constantly 
with men, preserved her purity unsullied ; suffered severe ill- 
ness in a hospital in Philadelphia, where her sex was discov- 
ered ; received an honorable discharge from the army at the 
close of the war, and returned to her relatives in Massachu- 
setts. 

These facts, and others connected with them, are set forth, 
with no inconsiderable amount of what was meant for embeUish- 
ment, in "The Female Review," a small volume of 258 pages, 
i2mo., compiled by Herman Mann, and printed for him at Ded- 
ham, in 1797. This book has long been out of print, and is now 
rarely to be met with. Considered merely as a composition, 
this volume does not rank high. The style is pompous and af- 
fected, the manner prolix and verbose. Throughout the volume, 
there is an evident straining after effect. Instead of presenting 
a simple narrative, " a round, unvarnished tale," the writer made 
a kind of novel, founded, .indeed, on fact, but with additions of 
his own. He aimed at weaving a web of gaudy colors, which 
should strike strongly on the fancy of his readers. He intro- 
duces a great deal of extraneous matter, which serves only to 
fill out his pages, without at all helping forward the story. He 
proceeds with too little caution in his statements of fact, follow- 
ing, sometimes, the practice of Voltaire, who, when asked at 
the table of Frederick H. how he could allow himself in state- 
ments so variant from the truth, replied, " I write history to be 
read, not to be believed." This volume, however, has furnished, 
in great part, the material which has been used by most of the 



XII INTRODUCTION. 

writers who have hitherto attempted to give an account of 
Deborah Sampson ; and there can be no doubt that the well- 
authenticated facts of the case will repay a thoughtful consid- 
eration. 

To disengage what is true from what is of doubtful authority ; 
to separate the real from the fictitious ; to disentangle the facts 
from the fancies with which they have been mingled, — is the 
design of the present edition. But to draw the line accurately 
between the two has been found no easy matter. 

It appears that the heroine, ten or twelve years after her 
return from the army, became acquainted with Mr. Mann, the 
original author ; and some materials for the narrative were gath- 
ered, principally from her own lips, but in part also from some 
scattered memoranda of hers, from conversation with her rela- 
tives, from officers who knew her in the army, and from other 
sources. A journal, which she had constantly kept while in the 
service, was unfortunately lost with her trunk, in the passage by 
water, which she attempted to make, from Elizabethtown, N.J., 
to New York, in a heavy gale, as she states, while on her return 
from a Western tour to the headquarters of the American army, 
in October, 1783. It was necessary, therefore, to rely chiefly on 
her memory ; and, in regard to all important facts, this could 
hardly fail. 

It seems, however, that both the writer and the heroine of 
" The Female Review," after the issue of that volume, became 
dissatisfied therewith : it seemed, even to them, a crude and im- 
perfect sketch. Many marks of carelessness, and of a want of 
due preparation, were too clearly seen ; some things were un- 
truly stated, and a general looseness of style and of sentiment 
was apparent. The resolution was formed, therefore, to prepare 



INTRODUCTION. xiii 

a worthier and more comely volume. The writer had now be- 
come better acquainted with his subject, and possessed of an 
ampler stock of materials. The book was therefore rewritten, 
with much enlargement in respect to facts, obtained from the 
heroine herself The memoir, thus revised, is said to have been 
carefully examined and fully approved by Mrs. Gannett, who 
exacted the promise, however, that it should not be printed 
till after her decease. She died in 1827, and the author was 
thus relieved of the obligation. But a severe and protracted 
illness, which resulted in the author's own death in 1833, pre- 
vented his fully completing the work. 

The manuscript, after the author's death, fell into the hands of 
his son, to whom it appeared capable of still further improve- 
ment. The younger Mann, therefore, took pains to remodel it 
thoroughly, omitting much of the extraneous matter, and mak- 
ing the heroine throughout to speak in the first person ; thus 
giving more animation and directness to the narrative. The 
dramatic style is employed wherever there is room for it. We 
cannot avoid the impression that the MS. is dramatic through- 
out, — quite as much so as the historical plays of Shakspeare, 
while there can be no comparison in respect to artistic merit. 
The manuscript memoir, or novel, — whichever the reader 
pleases, — was completed in 1850. It is a decided advance 
on "The Female Review," in style and manner, though still 
abounding in superfluous phrases, and containing much irrele- 
vant matter. It exists only in a manuscript of 336 pages, and 
will probably never appear in print. All that is valuable in it 
has been incorporated in the present volume. The constant use 
of this document by the editor is an advantage which has not 
been enjoyed hitherto by any one who has given to the public 



XIV INTRODUCTION. 

an account of Deborah Sampson. He has thus been enabled 
to present a more full and, he trusts, a better history of this 
remarkable woman. 

As the language of the manuscript memoir is suscepti- 
ble of much improvement, I have not confined myself to the 
exact words. Though Deborah is ostensibly the speaker, the 
words are Mr. Mann's. He speaks in her behalf, as her repre- 
sentative and interpreter. From the language employed by 
him, I have felt at liberty to depart whenever I thought the form 
of expression could be improved ; dropping expletives, throwing 
off superfluous phrases, and changing one word for a better ; 
new modelling whole sentences and paragraphs for the sake of 
clearer and fuller expression ; but never changing the idea. 
Even if I had Deborah's own words before me, the practice of 
good writers, in similar cases, would have warranted a careful 
and thorough revision. 

The original work, however, — " The Female Review," — is, in 
the following pages, literally and fully reprinted, that subscribers 
may possess the text as first printed in 1797. Copious notes 
are added wherever it seemed necessary, for the purpose of cor- 
recting erroneous statements, or presenting additional informa- 
tion. 

From the nature of the case, there could be no other evidence 
in regard to most of the facts herein reported, but the state- 
ments of the heroine herself. Whether these statements can 
always be trusted, or whether, indeed, she ever made some of 
them, the reader must judge. The main thread of the story 
will undoubtedly hold true, confirmed as it is by so many con- 
curring testimonies. But for some of the details of " The Fe- 
male Review," and of the MS. memoir, an easy faith is required. 



INTRODUCTION. xv 

Some years ago, my friend, Rev. Stillman Pratt of Middle- 
borough, became interested in the story of Deborah Sampson, 
and collected in that vicinity some facts not before published, 
which, with other matter copied, without material alteration, 
from " The Female Review," he gave to the world in his paper, 
" The Middleborough Gazette." The additional information thus 
obtained will be found in the ensuing pages. In several in- 
stances, it is at variance with statements purporting to have 
been received from the heroine. 

The time when Deborah Sampson enlisted into the army has 
been untruly stated. Mrs. Ellet, in her " Women of the Revo- 
lution," says she enlisted in October, 1778, when eighteen years 
of age. This statement is copied by Dr. Allen, in his " Bio- 
graphical Dictionary," third edition. It is manifestly erroneous, 
for reasons which will soon appear. " The Female Review," and 
Rev. Mr. Pratt, who here copies from it, state that she enlisted 
in April, 1781. The MS. memoir, of which mention has already 
been made, repeats the same statement. It is sustained by the 
following document, which has just been obtained from the Pen- 
sion Office in Washington. It is a declaration made by Mrs. 
Gannett, under oath, at the time when she relinquished her in- 
valid pension, and received the benefit of the Act of Congress, 
passed March 18, 1818. 

" United States : 

" Massachusetts District. 

"Deborah Gannett of Sharon, in the county of Norfolk, 
and district of Massachusetts, a resident and native of the United 
States, and applicant for a pension from the United States, under an 
act of Congress entitled, ' An Act to provide for certain persons engaged 



XVI INTRODUCTION. 

in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary 
War,' maketh oath that she served as a private soldier, under the name 
of Robert Shurtleff, in the war of the Revolution, upwards of two years, 
in manner following, viz.: Enlisted in April, 1781, in the company 
commanded by Captain George Webb, in the Massachusetts regiment 
commanded by Colonel Shepherd, and afterwards by Colonel Henry 
Jackson, and served in said corps in Massachusetts and New York until 
November, 1783, when she was honorably discharged in writing, which 
discharge is lost. During the time of her service, she was at the cap- 
ture of Lord Cornwallis, was wounded at Tarrytown, and now receives 
a pension from the United States, which pension she hereby relin- 
quishes. She is in such reduced circumstances as to require the aid 

of her country for her support. 

"DEBORAH GANNETT. 

"Massachusetts District, Sept. 14, 1818." 

The foregoing was copied, Feb. 21, 1866, from the original, 
in the Pension Office in Washington. 

At a later period, Mrs. Gannett applied to Congress for further 
aid, in a petition of which the following is a copy : — 

" To the Hon. Senate and House of Represeiitatives 
in Congress assef7ibkd. 

" The petition of Deborah Gannett of Sharon, in the county of Nor- 
folk, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Humbly shews. That she 
served as a soldier in the Army of the United States, during the Revo- 
lutionary War ; that she was wounded while in the service ; and that 
while others were on the list of pensioners, and received their pensions 
soon after the termination of the war, she was not on the list of pen- 
sioners until the first of January, 1803, owing to the great disadvantage 
she was under to procure sufficient credentials which were necessar}' to 



INTRODUCTION. xvii 

lay before Congress. She therefore prays that Congress would allow 
her at the rate of four dollars per month from the time that others in 
similar situations received their pensions, up to the first day of Janu- 
ary, 1803. And as in duty bound will ever pray. 

"DEBORAH GANNETT. 

"Sharon, January 25, 1820." 

This petition was forwarded to Washington, to the care of 
Hon. Marcus Morton, then a representative in Congress from 
Massachusetts. As appears by an indorsement thereon, it was 
referred, March 28, 1820, to the Committee on Pensions and 
Revolutionary Claims. March 31, 1820, it was considered, but 
not allowed. The original petition is now before me. 

The following dociunent was furnished on application from 
the editor : — 

" Department of the Interior, 

Pension Office, February 13, 1866. 
"Sir, — In the matter of Deborah Gannett, about which you make 
certain inquiries, I have to state, that, on the nth of March, 1805, she 
was allowed a pension of four dollars per month, as an invalid soldier 
of the war of the Revolution. Her pension commenced January i, 
1803. The name of the pensioner was inscribed upon the Massachu- 
setts Invalid Pension Roll. In 18 16, her pension was increased to 
six dollars and forty cents per month. On the i8th of March, 18 18, 
Congress passed an Act, granting pensions of eight dollars per month 
to those soldiers who served, continuously, nine months and longer in 
the Continental line, and who were in need of the assistance of the 
country for support by reason of reduced circumstances. No person 
who was in the receipt of a pension could receive the benefit of this Act, 
unless he relinquished the pension he was receiving under former acts. 
In 18 19, Deborah Gannett relinquished her Invalid Pension, and was 
pensioner under said Act of the i8th of March, 18 18, at the rate of 
3 



XVIII INTRODUCTION. 

eight dollars per month, and drew said pension of eight dollars per 
month until March 4, 1827. She died in 1827. The papers upon 
which she was allowed her Invalid Pension were burned in 18 14, when 
the War Office was burned by the British troops. The nature of her 
disability is not known, further than that she was severely wounded at 
Tanytown. The soldier enlisted under the name of Robert Shertliff, 
in April, 1781, under Captain George Webb, in a regiment of the Mas- 
sachusetts Continental line, commanded by Colonel Shepherd, and after- 
wards by Colonel Henry Jackson, and served until November, 1783, 
when she was honorably discharged. She was at the capture of Corn- 
wallis. 

" Benjamin Gannett, the husband of the soldier, survived her as a 
widower, until 1837, when he died. On the 7th of July, 1838, Con- 
gress passed an Act, a Special Act (see Statutes at Large, vol. 6, page 
735), directing the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to the heirs of the 
soldier the sum of four hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, 
being at the rate of a pension of eighty dollars per annum from the 4th 
of March, 183 1, to the 4th of January, 1837. 

" As this amount of four hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six 
cents was paid at the Treasury, I am unable to state to whom, or when, 
it was paid. The foregoing embraces the information afforded by the 
files of this office, and, it is believed, every allowance made by law to 
Deborah Gannett, or her heirs. 

" I am yours, very respectfully, 

"JOSEPH H. BARRETT, Commissioner r 

Subjoined is a letter from the Secretary of War, in 1805, at 
the time of placing her name on the Invalid Pension Roll. The 
original, and also the original of the document which will imme- 
diately follow, are now in the possession of Mr. Jeremiah Col- 
burn, of this city, who has kindly permitted the use of them by. 
the editor: — 



INTRODUCTION. xix 

"War Department, ii March, 1805. 
" Sir, — You are hereby apprised that Deborah Gannett, who served 
as a soldier in the Army of the United States, during the late Revolu- 
tionary War, and who was severely wounded therein, has this day been 
placed on the Pension List of the United States, at the rate of four 
dollars per month, to commence on the first day of Januar}^-, 1803. 
You will be pleased to enter her name on your books, and pay her, 
or her legally authorized attorney, on application, accordingly. 
" I am, sir, very respectfully, 

"Your ob't servant, 

"H. DEARBORN. 

" Benjamin Austin, Jun., Esq., Boston^ 

Here is the first receipt given by Mrs. Gannett for her pen- 
sion : — 

"Commissioner's Office, April 10, 1805. 
"No. 12. 

" Received of Benjamin Austin, jun., Agent for paying In- 
valid Pensioners belonging to the State of Massachusetts, One hundred 
and four dollars, 53^ cents, being for 26 months' and 4 days' Pension 
due to Deborah Gannett, from the first day of January, 1803, to the fourth 
day of March, 1805 ; for which I have signed duplicate Receipts. 

"DEBORAH GANNETT. 

''Dollars 104.53I." 

The follov^ing is the Special Act of Congress referred to in 
the foregoing communication from the Pension Office : — 

" An Act for the relief of the heirs of Deborah Gannett, a soldier of 

the Revolution, deceased : 

" Be it enacted, &c., That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is 
hereby, directed to pay, out of any money not otherwise appropriated, to 
the heirs of Deborah Gannett, a revolutionary soldier, and late the wife 
of Benjamin Gannett of Sharon, in the State of Massachusetts, now 



XX INTRODUCTION. 

deceased, the sum of four hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six 
cents, being an equivalent for a full pension of eighty dollars per an- 
num, from the fourth day of March, 183 1, to the decease of Benjamin 
Gannett, in January, 1837, as granted in certain cases to the widows of 
revolutionary soldiers by the Act passed the fourth day of July, 1836, 
entitled an Act granting half pay to widows or orphans where their 
husbands or fathers have died of wounds received in the military ser- 
vice of the United States, and for other purposes. 
"Approved July 7, 1838." 

The subjoined Report of the Committee on Revolutionary 
Pensions, taken from Reports of Committees, Twenty-fifth Con- 
gress, 2d Session, Vol. i., No. 172, January 31, 1837, adds some 
facts not elsewhere stated. 

Mr. Wardwell, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pen- 
sions, made the following Report : — 

" The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, to which was referred 
the petition of Benjamin Gannett of Sharon, State of Massachusetts, 
report : — 

"That the petitioner represents that he is tlie surviving husband of 
Deborah Gannett, to whom he was lawfully married on the 7th day 
of April, 1784; that she died on the 29th of April, 1827. He also 
states, that, in the early part of her life, the said Deborah enlisted as a 
soldier in the array of the Revolution, under the assumed name of Robert 
Shurtlefif, where she faithfully served her country three years, and was 
honorably discharged in November, 1783 ; that, on account of a wound 
received in the service, she received a pension as an invalid, until the 
passage of the Act of i8th March, 1818 ; and that she received a full 
pension under the Act until her decease. The petitioner further states, 
that the effects of the wound which she received followed her through 
life, and probably hastened her death. The petitioner represents him- 



INTRODUCTION. xxi 

self to be eighty-three years of age, infirm in health, and in indigent cir- 
cumstances. He states also that he has two daughters dependent on 
charity for support. The petitioner prays that he may receive the 
amount of the pension of his wife, from the time of her decease, and 
that it may be continued to him. till Jiis death. 

" It appears, from a letter received from the Commissioner of Pen- 
sions, that Deborah Gannett, deceased, was placed on the Massachusetts 
roll of invalid pensioners, at $48 per annum, which was afterwards in- 
creased to $76.80 per annum. This she relinquished, in 1818, for the 
benefit of the Act of March 18, 1818. She was placed, under that law, 
at the rate of eight dollars per month, from the 14th September, 18 18, 
which she received up to the 4th March, 1827. It further appears, from 
said letter, that the papers containing evidence upon which the original 
pension was granted were burned in 18 14, when the British troops in- 
vaded Washington, and destroyed the War Office, with its contents. 

J;5^nJ:.lie_x4JiL September, 18 18, the said Deborah made her declara- 
tion, under oath, that she served as a private soldier, under the name of 
Robert Shurtleff, in the war of the Revolution, upwards of two years, in 
manner following : Enlisted, in April, 1781, in a company commanded 
by Captain George Webb, La the Massachusetts regiment commanded 
by Colonel Shepherd, and afterwards by Colonel Henry Jackson ; that 
she served in Massachusetts and New York until November, 1783, when 
she was honorably discharged in writing, which discharge she had lost. 
She was at the capture of Comwallis, was wounded at Tarrytown, and, 
up to the date of her declaration, she received a pension therefor. 

" P. Parson testifies, under oath, that she lived in the family of Benja- 
min Gannett more than forty-six years after he married Deborah Samp- 
son ; that she well knew that said Deborah was unable to perform any 
labor a great part of the time, in consequence of a wound she received, 
while in the American army, from a musket-ball lodged in her body, 
which was never extracted. She also states that she saw Benjamin 
Gannett married to Deborah Sampson at his father's house in Sharon. 



XXII INTRODUCTION. 

" Benjamin Rhoad and Jeremiah Gould, the selectmen of the town of 
Sharon, in the State of Massachusetts, certify that they are acquainted 
with Benjamin Gannett, now living in said Sharon ; that he is a man of 
upwards of eighty years of age ; that he is destitute of property ; that he 
has been an industrious man ; that he was the husband of the late Deb- 
orah Gannett, deceased, who for a time received a pension from the 
United States for her military services during the Revolutionary War. 

"William Ellis, formerly a Senator in Congress, in a letter to the 
Hon. William Jackson, now a Representative in Congress, states that 
said Gannett has been a very upright, hard-laboring man ; has brought 
up a large family, and is a poor man. He further states, that he has 
long since been credibly informed that said Gannett had been subjected 
to heavy expenses for medical aid for his wife, the said Deborah, for 
twenty years or more, and before she received a pension under the Act 
of 1818, on account of wounds she received in the United States service. 

" There are other certificates among the papers in this case, showing 
the physician's bill alone, for attendance on the said Deborah, to be 
more than six hundred dollars. 

" The Committee are aware that there is no Act of Congress which 
provides for any case like the present. The said Gannett was married 
after the termination of the war of the Revolution, and therefore does 
not come within the spirit of the third section of the Act of 4th July, 
1836, granting pensions to widows in certain cases ; and, were there 
nothing peculiar in this application which distinguishes it from all other 
applications for pensions, the Committee would at once reject the claim. 
But they believe they are warranted in saying that the whole history of 
the American Revolution records no case like this, and ' furnishes no 
other similar example of female heroism, fidelity, and courage.' The 
petitioner does not allege that he served in the war of the Revolution, 
and it does not appear by any evidence in the case that such was the 
fact. It is not, however, to be presumed that a female who took up 
arms in defence of her country, who served as a common soldier for 



INTRODUCTION. xxiii 

nearly three years, and fought and bled for human liberty, would, nnme- 
diately after the termination of the war, connect herself for life with a 
tory or a traitor. He, indeed, was honored much by being the husband 
of such a wife ; and as he has proved himself worthy of her, as he has 
sustained her through a long life of sickness and suffering, and as that 
sickness and suffering were occasioned by the wounds she received, and \ 
the hardships she endured in defence of the country ; and as there can- 
not be a parallel case in all time to come, the Committee do not hesi- 
tate to grant relief 

" They report a bill granting to the petitioner a pension of $80 per 
year from the 4th day of March, 1831, for and during his natural life." 

The foregoing documents seem to prove conclusively that 
Deborah Sampson enlisted in the army in the month of April, 
1 78 1. The follov^ring documents prove as conclusively that she 
did not enlist till May, 1782. The reader will take notice that 
the preceding papers are all of a much later date than those that 
follow ; and he will naturally be induced to ask why the state- 
ment that the enhstment was in April, 1781, was not inserted in 
so important a document as that which we shall now copy, and 
which was made when the facts of the case were so recent. 

In January, 1792, Deborah Gannett, formerly Deborah Samp- 
son, signed a petition to the Legislature of Massachusetts, of 
which the following is an exact copy : — 

"To His Excellency the Governor, the Honourable Senate, and the Honour- 
able Houfe of Reprejentatives, in General Court ajjembled, this Eleventh 
day of jfanuary 1792. 

" The Memorial of Deborah Gannet 
Humbly Sheweth, that your Memorialift from Zeal for the good of her 
Country was induc'd, and by the name of Robert Shirtliff did, on May 
20, 1782, Inlift as a Soldier in the Continental Service, for Three Years, 



XXIV INTRODUCTION. 

into the 4*^ Regiment, Col? Shepard's, (afterwards Col? Jackfon's) in 
Capt George Webbs Compy. & was mufter'd at Worcefter, by Capt 
Eliphalet Thorp of Dedham, the 23^ of the fame Month, & went to the 
Camp, under the Command of Sergeant Gambel, & was conftant & 
faithful in doing Duty, with other Soldiers, & was engag'd with the 
Enemy at Tarry Town New York, & was wounded there by the Enemy, 
& continued in Service untill difcharg'd, by General Knox at Weft Point 
06tober 25, 1783. Your Memorialift has made fome Appli- 
cation to receive pay for her fervices in the Army, but being a Female, 
& not knowing the proper fteps to be taken to get pay for her fervices, 
has hitherto not receiv'd one farthing for her fervices : whether it has 
been occafion'd by the fault of Officers in making up the Rolls, or 
whether Effrican Hamlin paymafter to the 4^^ regiment, has carried off 
the papers, &c. your Memorialift cannot fay : but your Memorialift prays 
this Honourable Court to confider the Juftnefs of her Claim, & Grant • 
her pay as a good foldier ; and your MemoriaKft as in Duty bound ftiall 

^<^C^i^ ^^^^^^^^'^^^ 

The foregoing petition v^as presented to the House of Repre- 
sentatives, and by them referred to a committee, consisting of 
Dr. William Eustis of Boston (afterwards Governor), Benjamin 
Hitchborn of Dorchester, and James Sproat of Middleborough. 
This Committee reported favorably on the petition, and conse- 
quently the follov^ing Resolve was passed : — 

^''Commonwealth of Majfachufetts : 

Houfe of Reprefentatives^ yan. 19^!^^ 1792. 

" On the petition of Deborah Gannet, praying compenfation for fer- 
vices performed in the late Army of the United States. 

"Whereas it appears to this Court that the faid Deborah Gannet 
inlifted, under the name of Robert Shirtliff, in Capt? Webb's company. 



INTRODUCTION. xxv 

in the 4*^ Maffachufetts Regiment on May 20, 1782, and did a6tually 
perform the duty of a foldier in the late Army of the United States to 
the 234 day of 06tober 1783, for which Ihe has received no compenfation : 

" And whereas it further appears that the faid Deborah exhibited an 
extraordinary inftance of female heroifm by difcharging the duties of a 
faithful, gallant foldier, and at the fame time preferving the virtue & 
chaftity of her fex unfufpedted and unblemifhed, & was difcharged from 
the fervice with a fair & honorable character. Therefore — 

" Resolved, That the Treafurer of this Commonwealth be and he 
hereby is directed to iffue his note to the faid Deborah for the fum of 
thirty-four pounds, bearing intereft from 06tober 23, 1783. 

" Sent up for Concurrence. " D. COBB, Speaker, 

" In Senate, JanY 20, 1792. Read and concurred. 

" SAML PHILLIPS, President. 




^^/mMf9it^0^ 



^^^^ 



Connected v^ith the foregoing papers is the follov^ing : — 

,, rr. 1 •. • "Boston, ^2^F^ I, 1786. 

" To whom it may concern. ' * ' ' 

" Thefe may Certify that Robert Shurtliff was a foldier in my Regi- 
ment in the Continental army for the town of Uxbridge in the Common- 
wealth of Maffachufetts & was inlifted for the term of three years : — 
that he had the confidence of his officers and did his duty as a faithful 
and good foldier, and was honorably difcharged the army of the United 
States. " HENRY JACKSON, late Col. 

in the America7i Army. 

" A true copy of the original delivered faid Shurtliff. 

"Attest. "JOHN AVERY Jun^ SedyJ' 

4 



XXVI INTRODUCTION. 

The subjoined certificate accompanies the preceding papers : — 

" Dedham, DeceniT lo, 1791. 
"This Certifies that Mrs. Deborah Gannet inhfted as a foldier on 
May ye 20*^ 1782 for three years and was Mufl;er'd y^ 23^ of y^ Same 
Month at Worcefter and fent on to Camp foon after and as I have been 
inform'd did the Duty of a Good Soldier 

" Yl ELIPHT THORP, Capi f^' M. Re^. M. Majie?' 
" N. B. Robert ShirtHef was y^ Name by which MJ"^ Gannet inhfted 
and Mufterd" 

The four documents immediately preceding are on file in the 
office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
and were copied exactly by the editor from the originals. They 
are all in one fold, and are endorsed — 

" Refolve on the petition of Deborah Gannet, granting her £2,^ for 
fervices in the late Continental Array. JanY 20, 1792." 

The sum granted, ;£34, was equivalent to one hundred dollars, 
and a small fraction over. 

In reference to these documents, a strict regard to truth com- 
pels us to offer the following observations : — 

1. Deborah Gannett, formerly Sampson, the heroine of our 
story, in presenting to the Legislature a petition for compensa- 
tion as a soldier, must have made the utmost of her case. If 
she had been a soldier in 1778, or in 1781, and especially if she 
had been a sharer in the glorious campaign which ended in the 
surrender of Cornwallis, she would doubtless have said so ; and, 
if such were the fact, she could easily have proved it. But the 
petition of 1 792 says nothing of this sort 

2. As we know from her own statement in this petition that 



INTRODUCTION. xxvii 

she enlisted in May, 1782, it is scarcely possible that she could 
have enlisted in 1781, because, in that case, she must have en- 
listed for one year only. But the practice of short enlistments, 
which had nearly proved fatal to the American cause in the 
autumn and winter of 1776, had, in 1781, long been abandoned. 
Moreover, it appears, from the " Continental Army Books," * in 
the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, that all the 
men in Colonel Shepard's regiment, as well as in the other 
regiments of the Massachusetts line, were enlisted "for three 
years, or during the war." 

3. She could not have enlisted in 1778, as Mrs. Ellet affirms, 
because, in that case, the " Continental Army Books," just men- 
tioned, would contain the name of Robert ShirtlifF. But they 
do not contain it. The name of Robert Shirtliff appears in the 
" List of Final Settlement," a volume in the office of the said 
Secretary, containing the names of the soldiers who were dis- 
charged in 1783. Opposite to his name is number 40066, refer- 
ring to documents sent to the War Office at Washington, and 
destroyed when the War Office was burned in 18 14. 

4. Though the petition of Mrs. Gannett affirms that she en- 
listed for three years, and though the same statement is made in 
the certificates of Colonel Jackson and Captain Thorp, yet it 
does not follow that she served three years. She says that she 
was discharged in October, 1783. Her actual service, therefore, 
if we may believe her statement in the petition of 1792, was 
limited to one year and five months. 

5. Some of the statements, both of "The Female Review" and 
of the MS. memoir, seem incredible. In both of these docu- 

* They contain the names of all iments from 1777 to 1780, and the 
who served in the Massachusetts reg- amounts due them respectively. 



XXVIII INTRODUCTION. 

ments, especially in the latter, we are conducted, with great 
fullness of detail, through the campaign of 1781; the siege of 
Yorktown ; the hard work in the trenches ; the taking of two 
formidable British redoubts by storming parties ; and the final 
surrender of the hostile forces : and Deborah Sampson, we are 
assured, was a sharer in these stirring scenes. Had she forgot- 
ten her part in those memorable transactions when she pre- 
sented her petition to the Legislature of Massachusetts, only 
ten years afterwards ? 

Further to confirm what we have now said, we offer an extract 
from the Records of the First Baptist Church in Middleborough ; 
of which Church, as appears by those Records, Deborah was re- 
ceived a member in November, 1780: — 

" Sept. 3, 1782. The Church took a6lion as follows : 

" The Church confider'd the cafe of Deborah Sampfon, a member of 
this Church, who lall Spring was accufed of dreffmg in men's clothes, 
and enlifting as a Soldier in the Army, and altho Ihe was not con- 
victed, yet was flrongly fufpe6ted of being guilty, and for fome time 
before behaved verry loofe and unchriftian like, and at laft left our 
parts in a suden maner, and it is not known among us where (he is 
gone, and after coiifiderable difcourfe, it appeard that as feveral breth- 
eren had labour'd with her before (he went away, without obtaining fatif- 
fa(?tion, concluded it is the Church's duty to withdraw fellowlhip untill 
Ihe returns and makes Chriftian fatisfadlion." 

A vote to " withdraw fellowship " is equivalent to a vote of 
excommunication. It does not appear that Deborah was ever 
restored to the communion of that church, or of any other. 

From this extract it seems evident that she did not " dress in 
men's clothes, and enlist as a soldier in the army," till the spring 



INTRODUCTION. xxix 

of 1782. If SO, she did not enlist till the war was substantially 
over. The surrender of Cornwallis, in October, 1781, virtually 
closed the contest. No military operations, of any importance, 
were, after that event, undertaken on either side. 

It must be confessed, however, that the case is not wholly 
free from difficulty. The heroine of the story, who best knew 
the facts of the case, has given her testimony on both sides of 
the question. In January, 1792, she makes a positive statement 
that she enlisted in May, 1782, and is altogether silent about her 
being present at the siege of Yorktown. In September, 1818, 
twenty-six years later, she affirms, under oath, that she enlisted 
in April, 1781, and was at the capture of Cornwallis (see p. xvi.). 
The statements subsequently made in the document obtained 
from the Pension Office (p. xix.), and in the Report of the Com- 
mittee on Revolutionary Pensions (p. xxi), that her enlistment 
was in April, 1781, are evidently derived only from her declara- 
tion, in 1 8 18, just mentioned, which was clearly an after-thought. 
The reader is left to judge as to the probabilities of the case. 

After making all needful allowance for these conflicting 
statements, and for the exaggerations of the book before us, 
enough remains to invest the story of Deborah Sampson with 
a strange and a peculiar interest. She was certainly a woman 
of very marked and decided character. She is entitled, as no 
other female is, to be denominated " the heroine of the Ameri- 
can Revolution." Other women, during that eventful struggle, 
were patriotic, and brave, and courageous. Margaret Corbin, 
with manly fortitude, filled the place of her husband, who was 
killed by her side while serving a piece of artillery, at the attack 
on Fort Washington, and for this act of female heroism received 
a pension from Congress. The story of the gunner's wife is not 



XXX INTRODUCTION. 

forgotten, who took her husband's post when he was killed at 
the battle of Monmouth, and did such execution, that, after the 
engagement, she was rewarded with a commission. Mrs. Ellet 
has supphed a long list of other " women of the Revolution," 
who rendered important services to their country's cause. Deb- 
orah Sampson alone, so far as we know, entered the ranks as a 
common soldier, and, during two entire campaigns, performed 
the arduous duties of such a position. The most remarkable 
feature of the case is, that during those entire campaigns, while 
mingling constantly with men, ni^ht and day, in all their exer- 
cises, through so many months, she maintained her virtue unsul- 
lied, so that her sex was not even suspected. That such was 
the fact, we are assured by the Resolve of the Legislature of 
Massachusetts, and by many other concurrent testimonies. 
Her example in enlisting as a soldier is certainly not to be 
commended to the imitation of our fair countrywomen ; but 
her inflexible resolution and firm self-control, after she enlisted, 
are deserving of high praise. Indeed, we know not whether, 
in all respects, the world's history affords a parallel to the case. 
Women are always found in camps, sometimes in great num- 
bers ; not always, however, for worthy ends. Women in men's 
clothes were found dead at Waterloo, and on other battlefields 
in Europe. Many remarkable instances of female courage and 
heroism occurred in our late civil war. Several ladies of culture 
and refinement exposed themselves to far greater risks, in the 
"secret service," both of the Federal Government and of the 
rebel army, than were assumed by our heroine.* Woman, we 

* Mrs. Smith, wife of Captain Smith ships of the camp and the field, to ac- 
of the Army of the Cumberland, left company her husband, and serve the 
a Hfe of luxury for the utmost hard- cause of the Union. She distinguished 



INTRODUCTION. 



XXXI 



well know, may have a manly heart. Many women have excelled 
in manly qualities and in manly exercises, often bearing off the 
palm from the stronger sex. 

Ducit Amazonidum lunatis agmina peltis 
Penthesilea furens, mediisque in millibus ardet, 
Aurea subnectens exsertas dngula mammae 
Bellatrix, audetqu^ viris concurrere virgo. 

But Penthesilea and the Amazons never existed, save in epic 
poetry ; and the story of Semiramis, long believed, is now fully 
exploded. Boadicea, the British warrior-queen, " rushed to bat- 
tle, fought, and died." Jane of Montfort, clad in complete armor, 
performed prodigies of valor, and, in her little castle of Henne- 
bon, successfully withstood the arms of France. Joan of Arc, 

" The maid with helmed head, 
Like a war-goddess, fair and terrible," 

retrieved the desperate affairs of the French realm. Elizabeth 



herself as a scout, and performed sev- 
eral extremely bold exploits. She 
once captured, single-handed, three 
rebel soldiers, with their horses, which 
they were leading to water. At anoth- 
er time she defeated a plan of the 
rebels for the capture of her hus- 
band's company and the regiment, by 
a ride of more than thirty miles on 
a stormy night, encountering many 
dangers on the way. Pauhne Cush- 
man, an actress well known in the 
West, a woman of great energy and 
fine personal appearance, rendered 
very effective and valuable aid to the 
operations of the Western armies. 
Both as a scout and as a spy, she was 
engaged in many daring adventures 



in the cause of the Union, unravell- 
ing, by her uncommon talents, more 
than one deeply-laid plot of the rebels, 
and bringing to the leaders of our 
armies much useful information from 
the camps of the enemy. Mrs. Brown- 
ell, wife of Orderly-sergeant R. S. 
Brownell, of the Fifth Rhode-Island 
Regiment, accompanied her husband 
to the war. She was at the battles 
of Bull Run, of Roanoke Island, and 
of Newbern, exhibiting great pres- 
ence of mind, attending to the wound- 
ed, and encouraging the soldiers by 
her fortitude. When a standard-bear- 
er fell, she seized the banner, and, 
carrying it across the field, received a 
wound. —[ ^. S. Ser. Mag., Sept., 1 865.] 



XXXII INTRODUCTION. 

of England, and Catharine of Russia, nearer our own times, ex- 
tended their influence and their renown into distant regions. 

The following extract of a letter from Hon. William Ellis, for- 
merly a Senator in Congress, may form a fitting conclusion to 
these introductory remarks. It was furnished to the editor by 
Hon. Peter Force of Washington, D. C, and is dated Dedham, 
Feb. 4, 1837: — 

" From my own acquaintance with Deborah Gannett, I can truly say 
that she v/as a woman of uncommon native intellect and force of char- 
acter. It happens that I have several connections who reside in the 
immediate neighborhood where Mrs. Gannett lived and died ; and I 
have never heard from them, or any other source, any suggestions against 
the character of this heroine. Her stature was erect, and a little taller 
than the average height of females. Her countenance and voice were 
feminine ; but she conversed with such ease on the subject of theology, 
on political subjects, and military tactics, that her manner would seem 
to be masculine. I recollect that it once occurred to my mind that her 
manner of conversation on any subject embraced that kind of demonstra- 
tive, illustrative style which we admire in the able diplomatist." 




THE 



FEMALE REVIEW: 



OR, 

MEMOIRS 

OF AN 



AMERICAN YOUNG LADY; 



WHOSE LIFE AND CHARACTER ARE PECULIARLY DISTIN- 
GUISHED BEING A CONTINENTAL SOLDIER, FOR NEARLY 

THREE YEARS, IN THE LATE AMERICAN WAR. 

DURING WHICH TIME, 
SHE PERFORMED THE DUTIES OF EVERY DEPARTMENT, 
INTO WHICH SHE WAS CALLED, WITH PUNCTUAL EXACTNESS, 
FIDELITY AND HONOR, AND PRESERVED HER CHASTITY IN- 
VIOLATE, BY THE MOST ARTFUL CONCEALMENT OF HER SEX. 

WITH AN 

APPENDIX, 

CONTAINING 
CHARACTERISTIC TRAITS, BY DIFFERENT HANDS; HER 
TASTE FOR ECONOMY, PRINCIPLES OF DOMESTIC EDUCA- 
TION, ^'C. 



By a CITIZEN of MASSACHUSETTS. 



D E D H A M : 

PRINTED BY 

NATHANIEL and BENJAMIN HEATON. 
FOR THE AUTHOR. 

M,DCC,XCVII. 



TO THE 

PATRONS AND FRIENDS 

OF 

COLUMBIA'S CAUSE; 

THE FEMALE REVIEW 

Is DEDICATED : 



T 



HOUGH not imth intentions to encourage the 
like paradigm of Female Enterprise — but becaufe fuch 
a things in the courfe of nature, has occurred ; and becaufe 
every circumftance, whether natural, artificial, or acciden- 
tal, that has been made conducive to the promotion of our 
Independence, Peace, and Prosperity — all through Di- 
vine Aid, mufi be facredly remembered and extolled by 
every one, who folicits the Perpetuity of thefe invaluable 
Blessings. 

THE AUTHOR. 



PUBLISHED 
ACCORDING TO ACT of CONGRESS. 



P R E F A C E. 

THERE are but two degrees in the characters of 
mankind, that feem to arrefl the attention of the 
public. The firfl is that of him, who is the moft diftin- 
guifhed in laudable and virtuous achievements, or in the 
promotion of general good. The fecond, that of him, 
who has arrived to the greateft pitch in vice and wick- 
ednefs. 

Notwithstanding thefe chara6lers exhibit the greateft 
contraft among mankind, it is not doubted but each, ju- 
dicioufly and properly managed, may render effential 
fervice. Whilft the former ever demands our love and 
imitation, the other fhould ferve to fortify our minds 
againft its own attacks — exciting only our pity and detef- 
tation. This is the only method, perhaps, by which good 
may be faid to come out of evil. 

My firft bufmefs, then, with the public, is to inform 
them, that the Female, who is the fubje6l of the follow- 
ing Memoirs, does not only exift in theory and imagina- 
tion, but in reality. And were fhe not already known to 
the public, I might take pride in being the firft to divulge 
— a distinguijiied Chara5ler, Columbia has given her 
birth ; and I eftimate her natural fource too highly, to 
prefume fhe is difhonoured in the acknowledgement of 
fuch an offspring. 

However erroneous this idea may be deemed, I ftiall 



38 PREFACE. 

here flate only two general traits in her life to corroborate 
its truth. The criterion will flill remain to be formed by 
a candid and impartial public. 

She was born and educated in humble obfcurity — dif- 
tinguiflied, during her minority, only by uuMfiial propen- 
fities for learning, and few opportunities to obtain the 
ineftimable prize. At the age of eighteen, flie ftepped 
forward upon a more exalted ftage of adlion."^ She found 
Columbia, her common parent, enveloped and diftrafted 
with confufion, anguifh and war. She commiferated, as 
well as participated, her fufferings. And as a proof of 
her fidelity and filial attachment, fhe voluntarily offered 
her'fervices in the chara6ler of a Continental Soldier, in 
defence of her caufe ; by which, flie feemed refolved to 
refcue the reft of her brothers and fifters from that flagrant 
deftruftion, which, every inftant, feemed ready to bury 
them in one general ruin ; or, to perifli, a noble facrifice, 
in the attempt. 

Having noted the leading traits of this illuftrious Fair, 
I haften to give a concife account of the defign and exe- 
cution of the work. 

Justice, in the firft place, demands that I fhould men- 
tion the relu6lance, with which fhe has confented to the 
publication of this Review of her life. Though it has 
become more fafliionable, in thefe days of liberty and lib- 

* The heroine was in her twenty- ward upon a more exalted ftage ot 
fecond year when "flie ftepped for- a6lion." — Editor. 



PREFACE, 39 

erality, to publifh the lives of illuflrious perfons ; yet ilie 
refufed the folicitatlons of a number of literary charafters 
to publifh her own, till after her exit. She is not a ftick- 
ler for tradition ; yet this is againfl her. 

About fixteen months ago, by defire of a friend, I made 
her a vifit for this purpofe. She did not, pofitively, dif- 
card my requeffc. Being indifpofed, fhe faid, fhould fhe 
recover, if I would again be at the trouble to call on her, 
fhe would in the interim take advice, confult matters with 
herfelf, and come to a final decifion. This was the firft 
of my acquaintance with her. 

In a few weeks, I again waited on her. Having criti- 
cally weighed her own feelings, and wifhing to gratify .the 
curiofity of many, of whom fhe had taken advice — with 
extreme modejly and trembling diffidence, fhe confejited to 
take a public Review of the mofl material circumflances 
and events of her life. She relies on that candor and 
impartiality from the public, that now attend the detail 
of her Memoirs. 

I INTENDED to have executed this work at leifure ; as 
indeed, I have. I had no other way; as the materials 
were moftly to be colle6ted. This, with other preffmg 
avocations in life, brings me under the neceffity to apolo- 
gize to my worthy Patrons, for the delay of its publication 
a few weeks longer than the intended time. 

Sensibly impreffed with the idea, that every fubje6l 
intended for public contemplation, fhould be managed 



40 PREFACE. 

with intentions to promote general good ; I have, in every 
inftance, in the Female Review, indefatigably, labored 
for this important end. But perhaps I differ from moft 
biographers in this refpedl. I have taken liberty to in- 
terfperfe, through the whole, a feries of moral refledions, 
and have attempted fome literary and hifhorical informa- 
tion. However fmgular this is, I have the vanity to 
think it will not be deemed ufelefs. 

As an impartial writer, I am bound to handle thefe 
Memoirs in a difmterefted manner. But where a total 
facrifice of truth does not forbid, I take pride in publicly 
avowing, in this place, my defire, (as every one ought) to 
extol virtue, rather than give the leaft countenance to 
vice under any name, pretext or fandlion. Both may be 
reprefented and difcuffed — Vice expofed — Virtue cher- 
ifhed, revered and extolled. 

The authorities, upon which I have ventured, for the 
fupport oifaHs related in the following Memoirs, are not 
merely the words of the lady's own mouth. They have 
been detailed to me by perfons of veracity and notoriety, 
who are perfonally, acquainted with the circumffances. 
But I particularly refer my readers to the documents ac- 
companying the appendix. 

It would be almoft incredibly flrange, fhould no idle, 
capricious and even calumnious tale take rife with refped 
to the reputation of the female, diftinguiflied as flie is, 
who is the fubjed of thefe flieets. Being aware of this, 



PREFACE. 41 

file has already anticipated, and perhaps, in fome meaf- 
ure, experienced it. Her precaution now is, to prepare 
for the worft. She dreads no cenfure — no lafli of afper- 
fion more than that of the judicious and virtuous. My 
own wiflies are in this refpefl;, as in all others, that truth, 
candor and charity may be our ruling principles. When 
we ferioufly confider the horrors, dangers and general 
fare of war — that it is unavoidably attended with many 
irregularities, to which flie was expofed in common with 
the reft ; and yet, \i it be found that decorum and propri- 
ety of condu6l predominated in her general purfuits, we 
may bear to palliate a few foibles, from which we, even in 
our moft fequeftered, happy and ferene retirements, are 
not, always, exempt. 

There are but two fides to a perfon s charafter any 
more than there are to his garments — the dark and 
bright. In my refearches in the Female Review, though 
I have, decidedly, declared my choice for virtuous and 
laudable aftions ; yet, I have endeavoured to pay proper 
attention to their opponents, when they happened to 
make me vifits. But if I muft hereafter fuffer the lafli of 
afperfion from either fex for having ftiown partiality, I 
fliall rejoice in the confcientious fatisfa6lion of having 
given the preference to the Bright Side^ 

Perhaps, there is not one new idea, in the courfe of 
thefe Memoirs, advanced or hinted on the important 
bufmefs of education. But fhould I be fo fuccefsful, as 
6 



42 PREFACE. 

to roufe the minds and excite the attention of the inat- 
tentive to thofe principles, which have before been deemed 
ufeful; I fliall elleem it the mofb agreeable and ample 
compenfation for my endeavours. 

Suspicious, from my firfl engagement, that the Female 
Review would be a fubjec?!: as delicate, efpecially for the 
Ladies, as it is different from their purfuits ; I have flu- 
dioufly endeavored to meliorate every circumftance, that 
might feem too much tinftured with the rougher, mafcu- 
line virtues. This, however, has not been attempted with 
the duplicity of a facetious courtier ; but with a didlion 
foftened and comported to the tafte of the virttwus fe- 
male. And although I am a well-wifher to their whole 
circle, it is the cau/e of this clafs, only, I wifli to promote. 

I CANNOT difapprove their vehement attachment to 
many novels — even to the produ6lions of our own foil. 
Whilft they touch the paffions with all that is captivating 
and agreeable, they infpire manly thoughts, and irrefifti- 
bly gain our affent to virtue. As the peculiar events, 
that have given rife to the Female Review, ftand with- 
out a rival in American annals ; I, alfo, hope my endea- 
vours to render it agreeably entertaining and ufeful to 
.^them may not prove fallacious nor in vain. I readily 
yield the palm of ftyle to the rapturous and melting ex- 
preffions of the novelift : But I muft vie with him in one 
refpeft: — What he has painted in embryo, I have repre- 
fented in expanjion. 



PREFACE. 43 

This gallant Heroine has been reared under our own 
fofterage : and to reje6l her now, would be difowning a 
providential circumflance in our revolutionary epoch ; 
which the annals of time muft perpetuate. 

Europe has exhibited its chivalry and wonders. It 
now remains for America to do the fame : And perhaps 
the moft fmgular is already pafl — her beginning in infan- 
cy ! It is a wonder, but a truth full of fatisfa6lion, that 
North America has become free and independent. But a 
few years have elapfed fmce this memorable era; yet, 
even the face of nature has affumed a new and beautiful 
afpeft. Under the follering — powerful hands of induflry 
and economy, art and fcience have taken a rapid growth. 
The wreath of Virtue has fprung up ; and Liberty de- 
lights in twining it round her votary's brow. 

Happy in the poffeffion of fuch a Source for improve- 
ment, we fhould be barbarians to ourfelves to be inat- 
tentive to its promotion. Whilffc other nations may 
envy us the enjoyment of fuch diftinguifhed rights and 

felicity Heaven grant, we may vie with them only for 

that, which dignifies and promotes the character of 
Man. 

Massachusetts, July, 1796. , 






THE 



FEMALE REVIEW: 

OR, 

MEMOIRS 

OF AN 

AMERICAN YOUNG LADY. 



CHAP. I. 

A laconic Hijiory of Mifs Sampson's extraH^ion, — Local, 
and other Jituations of her parents, — Her endowments 
— natural temper and difpofition. — Her propenfities for 



T^EBORAH SAMPSON was born in Plympton, a 
-'-^ fmall village in the county of Plymouth in New- 
England, December 17, 1760.' She is a regular defcen- 



I Her pedigree on the father's fide 
is as follows : — 

I. Abraham Sampson i came to 
Plymouth either in Auguft, 1629, or 
in May of the following year. He 
was then a young man, and appears 
to have belonged to the Englifh con- 
gregation at Leyden, in Holland, and 
to have come over with fuch mem- 



bers of that congregation as chofe to 
remove to America after the death 
of their paftor, Rev. John Robinfon. 
There can be no doubt that he was a 
brother of Henry Sampfon, who came 
in the Mayflower, when a boy, in 
1620. Abraham Sampfon fettled in 
Duxbury, where Henry alfo refided, 
and died there, at an advanced age, 

45 



46 



THE FEMALE 



dant of the honorable family of William Bradford,^ a 
native of England, a man of excellent, natural endow- 



about the year 1690. He had four 
fons, who became heads of famihes, — 
SamueP, George^, Abraham^, Ifaacl* 

II. Ifaac Sampfon^, the youngeft 
fon, was born in Duxbury, in 1660. 
He was one of the firft fettlers of 
Plympton, a town originally a part 
of Plymouth, but incorporated as a 
feparate municipality in 1707. He 
died in Plympton, Sept. 3, 1726. His 
wife was Lydia Standifh^, daughter of 
Alexander Standifh^, and grand-daugh- 
ter of Miles Standish\ the military 
leader of the Pilgrims. The mother 
of Lydia Standi fh was Sarah Alden^, 
daughter of John Alden\ that 
" hopeful young man," as Bradford 
calls him, who joined the Pilgrim 
company at Southampton, in Auguft, 
1620, and fpent a long life in impor- 
tant fervices to the Plymouth Colony, 
dying, in 1687, at the age of eighty- 
eight 

III. Jonathan Sampfon^, the fec- 
ond fon of Ifaac Sampfon^ and of 
Lydia Standifh^, was born in 1690, 
and lived in Plympton all his days. 
Like his father and grandfather, he 
was a tiller of the foil. His wife was 
Joanna Lucas. He 'died in Plymp- 
ton, Feb. 3, 1758, aged 68. He had 
but one fon, who arrived at mature 
years, named for himfelf, to wit : — 

IV. Jonathan Sampfon'', junior, who 



* This expreffion, Ifaacs, denotes that Ifaac- 
was of the fecond generation, counting from and 
including the firft American anceftpr. 



was born in Plympton, April 3, 1729. 
He was, by his wife Deborah Brad- 
ford*, the father of Deborah Sampfon, 
the heroine of this Itory. — [See Samp- 
fon Genealogy, in the " Giles Memo- 
rial," ilTued, in 1864, by the editor. 

2 William Bradford^ was born 
at Auflerfield, in Yorkfhire, England, 
in 1588. His father and grandfather 
lived in the fame place, and bore the 
fame name. About 1608, he went 
with Mr. Robinfon's congregation to 
Amflerdam, and in 1609 to Leyden. 
He came to Plymouth in the May- 
flower, accompanied by his wife, 
whofe maiden name was Dorothy 
May. This lady, however, never 
reached Plymouth, but was acciden- 
tally drowned, Dec. 7, 1620, while the 
Mayflower remained in the harbor of 
Provincetown. His fecond wife, mar- 
ried Aug. 14, 1623, was the widow 
Alice Southworth, who had jufl; ar- 
rived in the Ann. After the death 
of Carver, in April, 1621, Mr. Brad- 
ford was chofen Governor of the in- 
fant colony. He was re-ele6led to 
that office every year till 1657, except 
five years, — 1633, '34, '36, '38, '44. 
In thofe years he was chofen Affifl:ant. 
For thirty-feven years, he was the 
foremofl; man in Plymouth Colony. 
He was acquainted not only with the 
Dutch and French languages, but 
with the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. 
For an unfelfifli public fpirit, and a 
general noblenefs of charader, he has 



REVIEW. 



47 



ments ; upon which, he made great improvement by 
learning. He emigrated to America whilft young; where 
he was, for many years alternately, elefled Governor of 
the Colony of Plymouth. In this department, he pre- 
fided with wifdom and punftuality, and to the unanimous 
fatisfaftion of the people under his charge. He married 
an American lady of diffcinftion ; by whom he had con- 
fiderable iffue. — As he lived beloved and reverenced, he 
died lamented by all, 1756. 

Her grand-father, Elisha Bradford,^ was a native of 
Plymouth in New England. He poffeffed good abilities. 



had among men no fuperior. At his 
death, which took place May 9, 1657, 
(not 1756, as ftated in the text), he 
was "lamented by all the colonies 
of New England, as a common bleff- 
ing and father to them all." By his 
fecond wife, he was the father of Wil- 
liam^, who diftinguifhed himfelf as a 
commander of the Plymouth forces 
in " Philip's War," and was feveral 
years Deputy Governor of the colony; 
and of Jofeph^, who was born in 1630, 
and married Jael, daughter of Rev. Pe- 
ter Hobart, firft minifter of Hingham, 
in 1664. Jofeph Bradford" lived in 
Kingfton, then a part of Plymouth, on 
Jones River, half a mile from its mouth. 
3 Eliftia Bradford^ was the fon of 
Jofeph Bradford^, laft mentioned, and 
grandfon of the Governor. His firft 
wife was Hannah Cole ; his fecond, 
Bathfheba Le Broche, as in the text. 
The Bradford Genealogy gives, as 
the date of the fecond marriage, Sept. 



7, 1 71 8, which muft be corre6l, as the 
firft child by this marriage was born 
in April, 17 19. His children were — 
By firji wife : — Hannah*, who mar- 
ried Joftiua Bradford*, b. June 23, 
1 710, fon of Ifrael Bradford^ of King- 
fton, who was a fon of Major William 
Bradford^, and grandfon of the Gover- 
nor. Joftiua Bradford* removed from 
Kingfton to Meduncook, now Friend- 
fhip, Maine, where, on May 27, 1756, 
both himfelf and wife were killed by 
a party of Indians, who carried their 
children to Canada, where they re- 
mained in captivity till the conqueft 
of that province by the Englifti, in 
1759. They then returned to Me- 
duncook. By fecond wife : — Han- 
nah*, b. April 10, 1 7 19.* Jofeph*, b. 
Dec. 17, 1 72 1. Nehemiah*, b. July 
27, 1724. Laurana*, b. March 26, 



* Inftances are not wanting in our early records 
of the giving of the fame name to another child 
in the fame family during the lifetime of the firft. 



48 THEFEMALE 

and explored many fources, that led him to literary dif- 
tin6tion. As he was eminent in property; fo piety, 
humanity and uprightnefs were the diflinguilhing char- 
a6leriflics of his life. He was married, September 7, 
1 719, to Bathsheba Le Broche, a French lady of ele- 
gant extradlion and accomplifhments. Her father was 
a native of Paris. He left a large iffue ; of which, Mifs 
Sampson's mother is one. — But Mr. Bradford, for one of 
his benevolent offices, being bound for a fliip and rich 
cargo belonging to a merchant of the fame town, had the 
misfortune to lofe the greater part of his intereft. Thus 
deprived, at once, of what he had learned to prize by the 
induflry and economy it cofl him ; it is natural to fuppofe, 
it was no fmall difcouragement to him, and that the face 
of things wore a different afpe6l around him : efpecially, 
when we refledl, that the fulfilment of thofe principles, 
which exert themfelves in a6ls of benevolence and affec- 
tion towards all perfons, depend, greatly, on wealth. Be- 
ing at this time confiderably advanced in years, this cir- 
cumftance, together with the lofs of his eldeit fon, preyed 
fafl upon his conftitution : And he did not long furvive 
to mourn the lofs of what feemed not in his power to 
remedy. 

1726; married Elijah McFarland of Alice*, b. Nov. 3, 1734; married 

Plympton. Mary*, b. Aug. i, 1727. W^aters of Sharon, Mafs. Afenath*, 

Elifha*, b. Oct. 6, 1729. Lois*, b. Jan. b. Sept. 15, 1736. Carpenter*, b. Feb. 

30,1731. Deborah*, b. Nov. 18, 1732; 7, 1739. Abigail*, b. June 20, 1741. 

married Jonathan Sampfon, jr.: {he Chloe*, b. April 6, 1743. — [Bradford 

was the mother of Deborah Sampfon. Genealogy, in Gen. Reg.^ vol. iv., p. 48. 



REVIEW. 49 

Miss Sampson's parents, though endowed with good 
abiHties, cannot, in an eminent degree, be diflinguifhed, 
either by fortune or fcientific acquifition. Her father 
was an only fon, and heir to no inconfiderable eflate. 
And if it be afked, why her parents had not a more Hb- 
eral education ? the anfwer may be a general objeftion : 
— Different perfons are a6luated by different objefls of 
purfuit. Some, it is evident, have leading propenfities for 
the accumulation of lucrative gain: whilfl others, who 
poffefs it, gladly embrace the opportunity for their ad- 
vancement in literature. 

It was, doubtlefs, the intention of Mr. Bradford to 
have given his children good education. " But whether 
the wreck in his fortune, or whether his numerous pro- 
geny retrained the liberality of his beftowments in this 
refpeft, I pretend not to affirm. It is, however, more 
than probable, that her mother's, and perhaps her father's, 
education, in fome refpefls, was fuperior to that of the 
commonalty. 

It is no diflionorable trait in the chara6ler of any 
in America to be born farmers ; even if they purfue the 
occupation through life. Their aim, however, mufl be 
to furnifh themfelves with the requifites, which will render 
them ufeful and happy, and thofe who are round about 
them. Had the latter of thefe bleffmgs been confered 
on Mifs Sampson's father, he might, peradventure, have 
furmounted difficulties, which, it is thought, tended to 
7 



50 THEFEMALE 

make him fickle, and perhaps, too loofe in his morals. He 
met with a fad difappointment in his father's ellate, occa- 
fioned by the ill defigns, connivings and infinuations of a 
brother-in-law/ Thus, he was difinherited of a portion 
that belonged to him by hereditary right. This circum- 
flance, alone, made fuch impreffions on his mind, that, 
inftead of being fired with a jufl fpirit of refentment and 
emulation, to fupply, by good application and economy, 
that of which he had been unjuftly deprived, he was led 
into oppofite purfuits, which flie laments, as being his 
greatejl misforfMne. 

Such was her father's local fituation after his marriage 
with her mother. She informs, that fhe had but very 
little knowledge of her father during her juvenile years. 
Defpairing of accumulating an interefl: by his domeflic 
employments, his bent of mind led him to follow the fea- 
faring bufinefs, which, as her mother informed her, he 
commenced before her birth. However great his prof- 
pefts were, that fortune would prove more propitious to 
his profperity and happinefs upon the ocean, than it had 



4 His father, Jonathan Sampfon, Records, the diftribution was fair, 

fenior, died in 1758. In the divifion though it may have been otherwife. 

of the ellate, which took place in 1759, The difappointment occurred only the 

a brother-in-law managed to deprive year before Deborah's birth, and 

him (Deborah's father) of what he ex- feems to have made him defperate. 

pe6led as his fhare of the property. Mortified pride feems to have driven 

Whether the expectation were well him from home. He appears to have 

founded or not, does not appear. For fallen into habits of intemperance, 

aught that appears on the Probate His wife was an eftimable woman. 



I 



REVIEW. 51 

done on the land, he was effe6lually difappointed : — For 
after he had continued this fruitlefs employment fome 
years, he took a voyage to fome part of Europe, from 
whence he was not heard of for fome years. At length, 
her mother was informed, he had perifhed in a fhip- 
wreck. 

By this time, his unfuccefsful fortune, both by land 
and fea, had the tendency to break up his family. Her 
mother, however, by her induftry and economical man- 
agement, kept her family together as long as poffible 
after her husband's fuppofed catailrophe. But flie, meet- 
ing with ficknefs, and other providential misfortunes, was 
obliged, at length, to disband her family and to fcatter 
her children abroad.^ 

It may, perhaps, be remarked, that nothing uncom- 
monly fmgular has attended Mifs Sampson in the pri- 
meval flages of her life : Yet, the inquifitive and curious 
mind, which is never tired in tracing the events and per- 
formances of the moft diilinguifhed charafters, is wont to 
extend its refearches ftill further, and to enquire where 
and how they have lived, and by what methods and grada- 
tions they arrived at the fummit of their undertakings. 
I believe it is a truth, to which we may generally affent, 

5 There were five children, two fons jamin Cufhman of Plympton. — See 

and three daughters, viz. : Robert CuJImian Genealogy. Deborali, b. 

Shurtleff. Ephraim. Sylvia, who Dec. 17, 1760, the heroine of our ftory. 

married, April 6, 1799, Jacob Cufli- The fifth child was a daughter, whofe 

man, b. Feb. 29, 1747-8, fon of Ben- name is to us unknown. 



52 THEFEMALE 

that moft illuftrlous charaders originate, either from very 
low or very high birth and circumftances. — I, therefore, 
beg the reader's indulgence, whilfl I trace the moll fmgu- 
lar circumflances and events that occured to Mifs Samp- 
son during her juvenihty; which may not be deemed 
wholly ufelefs and unentertaining. 

She was fcarcely five years old, when the feparation 
from her mother was occafioned by indigent circumflan- 
ces.^ The affeftionate and prudent parent can beft de- 
fcribe the emotions experienced by the mother and her 
daughter upon this occafion. The young Mifs Sampson 
had, already, contra61ed an attachment to letters ; and in 
many other refpedls, promifed fair to crown the inflruc- 
tions and affiduity of a parent, or patronefs, with the moft 
defirable fuccefs. And it was with pain, her mother faw 
thefe flattering fymptons without being able to promote, 
or fcarcely to encourage them by the fofl:erage of parental 
care and affedllon. Nor was the darknefs of the fcene dif- 
fipated, until a difl;ant relation of her mother's, an elderly 
maiden, by the name of Fuller, proffered to adopt her 
into her family, and take the charge of her education/ 

6 Notwithftanding the " indigent cir- in-german of Captain Simeon Sam- 
cumllances " out of which our heroine fon, one of the diflinguifhed naval corn- 
emerged, it fhould be borne in mind manders of the Revolution, — there 
that fome of the beft blood of the Old was much in her family connections 
Colony flowed in her veins. A de- to gratify an honeft pride, 
fcendant of John Alden, of Miles 7 Thus was Deborah, in the tender 
Standish, of Peter Hobart, and period of childhood, when the heart 
of William Bradford, and a couf- is moft open to impreffions, and when 



REVIEW. 53 

This was a very honeft and difcreet lady. She lliewed 
her young pupil many tokens of care and affeftion. But 
as Mifs Sampson remarked— "^^ / was born to be unfor- 
tunate, my fun foon cloudedr She had not continued in 
this agreeable fituation fcarcely three years, before her 
benefa6lrefs was feized with a violent malady, which, in a 
few days, proved fatal. 

Although fhe was, at that time, not more than eight 
years old, fhe was much affe6led with the lofs of her 
patronefs. — She deemed it almoft irreparable ; — confid- 
ered herfelf without a home, or fcarcely a friend to pro- 
cure her one. But this fcene was too diftreffmg to laft 
long. Her mother, hearing of her circumftances, endeav- 
ored to obtain a fuitable place for her, till fhe fhould 
come of age. She was put into one Mrs. Thacher's 
family in Middleborough, where flie continued about two 
years.^ This lady took particular care to gratify her favor- 
it moft needs the counfels and the 8 it has been fuppofed, and not 
reftraints of parental love, virtually without reafon, that this lady was the 
bereft of both her parents. The lofs widow of Rev. Peter Thacher, the 
fhe now fuftained could never be re- third minifter of Middleborough. Mr. 
paired. She had already exhibited Thacher was born in Milton, Oft. 6, 
indications of talent, and a thirft for i688, and was fon of Rev. Peter 
knowledge. She had, under the tu- Thacher of that place, and grandfon 
ition of her mother, begun to read, of Rev. Thomas Thacher, firft minif- 
Her perceptions were quick, her im- ter of the Old South Church in Bof- 
agination lively, her affeaions warm. ton. He was pallor of the Church 
Could her talents have been devel- in Middleborough from 1709 till his 
oped by proper culture, fhe might death, in 1744, in the 56th year of his 
have adorned an elevated pofition in age. If the fuppofition juft mentioned 
fociety. be corre6l, Mrs. Thacher muft have 



54 



THE FE MALE 



ite propenfity for reading, &c, but as flie was of a flender 
conftitution, her mother removed her to Mr. Jeremiah 
Thomas's, of the fame town.^ 

Is it, indeed, fadly true, that nature, our common fource 
of being, is unequal in her intellectual beflowments on 
the human fpecies ? If not, the apparent difference mufb 
be in the manner, in which they are exhibited. This I 



been, at the time when Deborah was 
in her family, more than eighty years 
of age, as fhe died in 1771, aged 84. 
In this cafe, fervices may have been 
required which a child ten years old 
was not able to perform. Plympton 
has Middleborough on the fouth-welt, 
joining it. 

9 The Hi/lory of the Fwjl Church in 
Middleborough, printed about twelve 
years fince, contains a lift of all who 
have been members of that church 
from its organization, in 1695, to 1853. 
This lift appears to have been com- 
piled with uncommon care. It con- 
tains the name of only one Jeremiah 
Thomas ; and he died in 1736, ce. yj. 
The individual intended in the text 
muft have been Benjamin Thomas, 
who was chofen deacon in 1776, and 
died Jan. 18, 1800, cb. 78. In the MS. 
memoir of Deborah Sampfon, he is 
called "Deacon Thomas," without 
any mention of his baptifmal name, 
which Deborah had evidently forgot- 
ten. The following fa6ts are related 
of him in the Hijlory of the Firfl 
Church, already mentioned : " Dea- 
con Thomas, though not of a culti- 
vated mind in other refpe<5ls, was well 



verfed in the Scriptures, of inflexible 
virtue, of found and clear orthodoxy, 
and confcientious in the performance 
of known duty ; holding on upon the 
old landmarks, and refuflng to let 
them go. In 1782, he was a repre- 
fentative in the Legiflature, and, in 
1788, a member of the Convention 
which adopted the Federal Conftitu- 
tion. A bill was under difcuffion for 
repealing the law of primogeniture. 
The deacon exprefled his doubts on 
the matter, becaufe the Scriptures 
fhowed fpecial favors to i\\t frft-born. 
A Bofton gentleman faid that 'the 
deacon miftook the Scriptures ; for 
they faid that Jacob, though the 
younger brother, inherited the birth- 
right.' The deacon replied, ' The 
gentleman had forgotten to tell us 
how he obtained it, — how Efau fold 
his birthright for a mess of pottage, 
and how Jacob deceived his father, 
pretending to be Efau, and how his 
mother helped on the deception, — 
he had forgotte7t all thatP The 
laugh, which was at firft againft the 
deacon, was now turned againft the 
gentleman from Bofton." The dea- 
con was more than a match for him. 



REVIEW. 55 

am inclined to believe : and the greateft remedy is edu- 
cation. — Hence the fhrewd faying — '' Learning keeps him 
out of fire and water!' — An excellent flimulation for every 
one. — Logicians, I trufl, will allow me to form an eflima- 
tion of Mifs Sampson's endowments, even before fhe had 
reached her teens. This I do, without a defign to flatter 
her into vain conceits of herfelf, or to wheedle any one 
of the human fpecies into her favor, or efteem of the 
writer. It is a juft tribute of refpe6l due to the illuftrious 
poor. 

Certain it is, that fhe early difcovered, at leaft to every 
judicious obferver, tokens of a fertile genius and an afpir- 
ing mind : a mind quick of perception and of Itrong pen- 
etration. And if it be allowable to judge of things past, 
by their prefent afpefl;, I hefitate not to announce, that 
her primeval temper was uniform and tranquil. Though 
deftitute of many advantages of education, fhe happened 
to fix on many genuine principles. She may be noted 
for a natural fweetnefs and pliability of temper — a ready 
wit, which only needed refinement — a ready conformity 
to a parent's, or patronefs' injunftions — a native modefly 
and foftnefs in expreffion and deportment, and paffions 
naturally formed for philanthropy and commiferation. 

A FURTHER enumeration might give occafion for a new 
apology. Nor have I a right to defcribe her abilities in 
proportion to the improvements fhe has fmce made. I 
might fall into grofs errars. Nature might complain of 



56 THEFEMALE 

injuftice for making a wrong eflimate of her bounties. 
And it is a truth, too often to be lamented, that fhe 
oftener complains of uncultivated talents, than for not 
giving any for cultivation. Our endowments, of courfe, 
mufl be equal, if not fuperior, to our improvements. — 
Should the contrary be urged, thofe principles, which 
have didlated her exertions, might lofe a part of their 
energetic influence ; in which flie ftill delights. Had flie 
fhared greater advantages in education, flie might have 
much exceeded the proficiency in erudition, but fcarcely 
the Angularity of chara6ler, which fhe has fmce attained. 

It was a circumflance peculiarly unhappy with Mifs 
Sampson, during her minority, that flie found lefs oppor, 
tunities, than inclinations, for learning. The inflances I 
fliall adduce to corroborate this affertion, will be com- 
prifed in the next chapter ; — where the reader will find a 
general fketcli of her education during this period. 

I SHALL only add, that many of our humble peafantry 
in America, would have thanked fortune, if this evil had 
been confined to her. It is not fo great a wonder, as it 
is a lamentable truth, which, obfervation in many families 
may evince, that they have amaffed together a greater 
bulk of riches than of ufeful fcience ; whilft, perhaps, the 
man, who never could obtain a mediocrity of wealth, only 
needed it to vie with them in every thing ufeful and orna- 
mental. — Thus, the mofl: fertile genius, like that of foil, 
which for want of proper cultivation, is overrun with 



REVIEW. 57 

noxious weeds, becomes corrupted by negledl and vicious 
habit : and the inherent beauties, that might have eclipfed 
a more than ordinary fhow, he dormant. 

Where then, could the Guardians of fcience have 
been fecreted ! or, had they not taken an univerfal charge 
of this growing empire ! — Inftances of this kind, however, 
are more rarely met with than formerly. And this error 
will always find the befl apology in the population of new 
countries, where the means for fubfiflence unavoidably 
demand the moft attention. But affluence, without being 
regulated by refined education, cloys the fight of the 
beholder; and the poffeffors are unqualified for duty. 
The minds of people are now roufed by the introdu6lion 
of new fcenes and objeds. And it is here to be repeated, 
to the honor of the citizens of New England, and the 
United States in general, that they are, with fuccefs, en- 
deavoring to counterbalance this once prevailing evil ; 
at leafl;, they would make an equilibrium between their 
wealth and literature. 

Let not, therefore, any who have talents for improve- 
ment, defpair of fuccefs in any fituation. Though a 
Franklin has become extin6l, a Washington furvives. 
Our native land fmiles under the fofi;ering hand of induf- 
try and economy. It will ftill produce our men of gov- 
ernment, our guardians of fcience, and our encouragers 
and promoters of virtue. 



h K^^K.^A~::^t^]'^^K.^^ ^ 



CHAP. II. 

Miss Sampson's propenjities for learning, and the obfla- 
cles JJte met with in it, contrajied, — View of her educa- 
tion during her juvenility — in which time, fite contracts 
a TASTE for the fludy of nature or natural philoso- 
phy ; which teaches her regular ideas of Deity — the 
necefjity of morality and decorum in her purfuits. 

^WJ^ are now to view MIfs Sampson advancing into 
' ^ the bloom and vigor of youth. In this feafon, 
comes on the trial of virtue and of the permanency of 
that foundation, upon which improvements have begun. 
The paffions having affumed greater degrees of vigor, 
and flill fufceptible of quick and delicate impreffions from 
their natural attachment to the fexes, and other alluring 
objefts of purfuit ; it becomes accountable, that fo many 
of both fexes, efpecially thofe deprived of genuine educa- 
tion, fail of that uniform courfe of improvement in knowl- 
edge and virtue, which is the only barrier againfl vice 
and folly, and our fureft guidance through life. If fhe be 
found, at this age, perfevering in thefe duties and fur- 
mounting the principal allurements to indecorum and 
vice, I need not hefitate to announce her a fmgular para- 
digm for many in better circumftances and in higher life. 
From the time fhe went to live in Mr. Thomas's fam- 
58 



REVIEW. 59 

ily,'° till fhe was eighteen, it may be faid fhe lived in com- 
mon with other youth of her own fex; except in two 
very important refpe6ls : — She had Jlronger propenfities 
for improvement, and lefs opportunities to acquire it. 
Induflry and economy — excellent virtues ! being hered- 
itary in this family, fhe was, of courfe, inured to them. 
And as their children were numerous, and chiefly of the 
mafculine fex, it is not improbable, that her athletic exer- 
cifes were more intenfe on that account. As they ap- 
peared more eager in the amafflng of fortune, than of 
fcientific acquifition, flie was obliged to check the bud, 
which had already begun to expand, and to yield the 
palm of the fulfilment of her duty to her fuperintendants 
in the manner they deemed beft, to the facrifice of her 
mofl endearing propenfities. But painful was the thought, 

lo Deborah lived in the family of manual labor proper to her fex. She 
Deacon Thomas from the age of ten learned to fpin and weave, accom- 
to that of eighteen. His houfe was pHfhments which were then thought 
in a retired fpot, about two miles eaft indifpenfable to a young woman. She 
of the central village of Middlebo- could alfo, when occafion required, 
rough Four Corners. It was a fub- harnefs the family horfe, and ride him 
ftantial building, the timbers and to plough, or to the village on errands, 
roof-boards being made of white-oak. She was not only familiar with the 
Here Deborah was well clad, and her work of the dairy, but, when a fhower 
phyfical wants were well supplied, was coming up, could rake hay, and 
The deacon had a good farm, and help to flow it away in the barn. She 
he and his family were good livers, was, moreover, a tolerable mechanic. 
Deborah's health became confirmed, If fhe wanted abafket, amilking-ftool, 
and fhe acquired a bodily vigor which or a fled, fhe could make it. Indeed, 
fitted her to encounter the hardfhips fhe acquired the habit of adapting 
of fubfequent years. She became herfelf toexiftingcircumftances,what- 
acquainted with almofl all kinds of ever they might be. 



6o THEFEMALE 

that file muft fuffer the bolt to be turned upon this, her 
favorite purfuit. Wounding was the fight of others going 
to fchool, when flie could not, becaufe JJte could not be 
/pared. Her refleftions were fingular, confidering her 
age, when contrailing her privileges with thofe of other 
children, who had parents to take the charge of their 
education. It was a circumflance effeftually mortifying 
to her, that fhe could not hold familiarity, even with the 
children of the family, on their fchool-topics. But the 
ambition that agitated her mind, made her wont to be- 
lieve her lot as good as that of orphans in general. 

Happy it was for her, at this age, that neither mortifi- 
cation nor prohibition impeded her inherent propenfity 
for learning. This, inflead of being weakened, was 
ftrengthened by time; though fhe had not devifed any 
effectual method to gratify it. She had often heard — 
that a forward and promijing youth is JJtort lived: But 
fhe did not believe it. And, in this refpe6l, her longevity 
was refled on as good fafety, as was that of the wifeft 
man : Nor have I the leafl inclination to cenfure either. 
The preceptor knows it is a tafk to kindle fparks of emu- 
lation in moft children ; and reafon informs him, when 
they are naturally kindled, it is an injurious engine that 
extinguiflies the flame. 

It is the pride of fome undifciplined, tyrannical tem- 
pers to triumph over fuppofed ignorance, diftrefs and 
poverty. In this, our better-deferving orphan found a 



REVIEW. 6i 

fource of mortification." But magnanimity and hope — 
ever foothing companions ! elevated her above defpair. 
The ideas of being rivalled by her mates in learning and 
decorum, guarded their proper receptacle, and prompted 
the eftablifliment of the following maxims : — Never neg- 
le5l the leajl circumfiance^ that may be made conducive to 
im^provement : Opportunity is a precious companion ; which 
is too often fadly verified by the fool's companions, /^//j/ 
and procrajlination — thieves, that rob the world of its 
treafure. 

Her method was to liflen to every one fhe heard read 
and fpeak with propriety. And when fhe could, without 
intrufion, catch the formation of a letter from a penman, 
fhe gladly embraced it. She ufed to obtain what fchool 
books and copies fhe could from the children of the 
family, as models for her imitation. Her leifure interims 
were appropriated to thefe tafkrs with as little reluftance, 
as common children went to play. 

Availing herfelf of fuch methods with unremitted 
ardor, together with promifcuous opportunities at fchool ; 
fhe, at length, found herfelf miflrefs of pronunciation and 

" There is no reafon to fuppofe refults. Deborah was bound to him 
that any thing of this fort was true of till the age of eighteen ; and he con- 
Deacon Thomas or any of his family, fidered himfelf entitled to her fervices 
He was a moll worthy man, careful whenever they were wanted. She at- 
and confcientious in all things ; but, tended fchool a part of the time ; and, 
like moft of the New England farm- when out of fchool, Ihe induced the 
ers of that age, he could not compre- children of the family to teach her. 
hend the value of learning, except as The fcanty opportunities allowed, fhe 
it contributed to immediate pra6lical improved to the utmoft. 



62 THEFEMALE 

fentences to fuch a degree, that flie was able to read, 
with propriety, in almofl any book in her language. The 
like application, in procefs of time, qualified her to write 
a legible hand. As foon as Ihe could write, fhe volunta- 
rily kept a journal of common occurrences ; an employ- 
ment not unworthy the humbleit peafant, or the most 
renowned fage.''' 

The anxiety and afpirations of her mind after knowl- 
edge, at length, became more notorious to many, who 
made learning their element. As catechetical tuition, in 
fome refpefts, was more in use thirty years ago, than 
now, fhe committed to memory, at an early age, the Cate- 
chifm by the Affembly of Divines, and could recite a 
prolix proof of it verbatim.'^ By this, flie fecured the 
efteem and approbation of her village curate ; '^ which he 
expreffed by many flattering expreffions, and a donation 
of a few books. And to mention the epiflolary corre- 

" She kept this journal on the indeed prohibited to thofe under their 
fingular plan of recording her good care, all gay and frivolous amufe- 
deeds on the firft, third, fifth, &c., ments ; and taught them, both by- 
pages, and her bad deeds on the op- precept and example, the llrifteft lef- 
pofite pages. As might be expe6led, fons of morahty and virtue. But fo 
the oppofite pages were foonell filled, much ferious religion was irkfome to 

13 The Catechifm was doubtlefs the buoyant fpirit of Deborah ; and 
committed to memory by all the young fhe contra6led a difrelifh for it which 
members of the family. This was a remained in after-life, 
family of the good old Puritan ftamp, 14 " Her village curate" — ftrange 
exa6l in the obfervance of the Sab- expreffion ! — was Rev. Sylvanus Co- 
bath, regular attendants on public nant. He was paftor of the Firfl 
worfhip, pun(?tual in their daily devo- Church in Middleborough from March 
tions. The parents difapproved, and 28, 1745, till his death, Dec. 8, 1777. 



REVIEW. 63 

fpondence, which flie commenced at the age of twelve, 
with a young lady of polite accomplifhments, who had 
not only offered to fupply her with paper, but with what- 
ever inftru6lions fhe could, would be reminding her of a 
debt which fhe could only repay by her gratitude for 
fuch obliging condefcention. The correfpondence was 
of much utility to her in her future employments. 

Thus, fo much genius and tafte were not always to 
remain fequeftered, like a pearl in the bowels of the deep, 
or in an inacceffable place. Nor muft I infmuate that 
fhe was here deprived of many other principal advan- 
tages of education. She fared well for food and rai- 
ment ; and that, fhe refle6ied, was better than could be 
faid of many of her furrounding companions. It is with 
refpe6l and gratitude fhe fpeaks of her fuperintendants 
on many other accounts. She has often faid with emo- 
tion, that the mofl mortifying punifhment fhe ever re- 
ceived from her maft^r, was — " Vou are always hammer- 
ing upon fome book — / wiJJi you wouldnt fpend fo much 
time in fcrabbling over paper' Had he been poffeffed 
of Mifs Hannah More's beautiful fatire, he might, more 
politely, have recited the same ideas : 

" I wilh fhe'd leave her books, and mend her clothes : 
I thank my flars, I know no verfe from profe." 

They not only carefully habituated her to induflry and 
domeilic economy in general ; but from them, her mif- 



64 THEFEMALE 

trefs In particular, fhe experienced leffons of morality and 
virtue ; which, fhe thinks, could not have failed to have 
been beneficial to any one, whofe heart had not been too 
much tipped with adamantine hardnefs, or whofe facul- 
ties had not been totally wrapped in inattention. In- 
deed, the laborious exercifes, to which fhe was accus- 
tomed, during her flay in this family, may be confidered 
of real fervice to her. They added flrength and perma- 
nency to her naturally good conftitution ; kept the mind 
awake to improvements (for the mind will doze, when 
indolence feizes the body).; and thus prepared her to en- 
dure the greater hardfhips, which were to chara6lerize 
her future life. 

It is with peculiar pleafure, I here find occafion to 
fpeak of Mifs Sampson's tajle for the fludy of Nature, or 
Natural Philofophy, More agreeable ftill would be my 
tafk, had fhe enjoyed opportunities, that her proficiency 
in it might have been equal to her relifh for it. 

That Philofophy fliould ever have been treated with 
indifference, much lefs, with intentional negleft, is an idea, 
that affords fingular aflonifhment to every rational mind. 
The philofopher has been confidered as — not a man of 
this world ; as an unfocial and unfit companion, and 
wanting in the general duties of life!^ Such ideas mufl; 

* I HERE particularly allude to a fmall performance, which contains, 
among thefe, many excellent moral maxims. It was written by a female, 
and entitled — " The whole Duty of Woman." 



REVIEW. 65 

have been the refult of a very erroneous acceptation of 
the word ; or, of a mind not a little tinftured with preju- 
dice. — I have always conceived, \}i\2X philofophy is 2,fcien- 
tific fphere, in which we are enjoined to a6l by nature, 
reafon and religion ; which ferve as a direflory, or aux- 
iliaries to accelerate us in it. The philofopher, then, in- 
flead of being rendered a ufelefs odjefi in fociety, and 
wanting in the general duties of life, is the perfon mofl 
eminently qualified for a ufeful member of fociety, the 
mofl: agreeably calculated for an intercourfe and union 
with the fexes, beft acquainted with the focial and en- 
joined duties of life ; and is thus preparing himfelf for a 
more refined being in futurity. 

It mufl then have been, merely, from the abftrufenefs, 
which many people have falfely imagined attends this 
mofl; plain and ufeful of all fciences, that they have been 
deterred from the purfuit of it, But however repro- 
bated and ufelefs the fludy of philofophy may have been 
deemed for the man of fenfe, and much more danger- 
ous for the other fex ; it is certain, that it is now emer- 
ging from an obfolete fl;ate, to that of a fafliionable and 
reputable employment. Ignorance in it being now the 
thing moflly to be dreaded. And many of both fexes 
are not afhamed of having the appellation conferred on 
them in any fituation in life. 

I LEARN from Mifs Sampson's diurnals, and from the 
credibility of others, that fhe early difcovered a tajle for 
9 



66 THE FEMALE 

the contemplation of the objefts and appearances exhib- 
ited in creation. She was notorious for her frequent in- 
terrogatories relative to their nature, ufe and end. Nor 
is this, in a degree, unnatural for children in general. 
Natural Creation is a fource that firfl excites the notice 
and attention of all. I have myfelf obferved, even in- 
fants, after long confinement, appear reanimated and 
filled with admiration on being again brought into the 
refulgence of the Sun or Moon, the fpangled appearance 
of the flars, the enamelled mead, the afpiring grove, or a 
fingle floweret. Thus, they make it a voluntary a6l to 
enquire into their origin, ufe and end : Whereas, it 
often happens, that the fame child, by reafon of fome 
nurfed, ill habit of temper, will brook no controul by the 
befl moral precept or example, except it be from the 
dread of corporeal punifliment. — This, therefore, fliould 
rouze the attention of parents. As the firft dawning of 
reafon in their children difplays itfelf in this way, they 
fliould make it their peculiar care to affift and encourage 
it in every refpect. Nature, indeed, may be confldered 
as a general monitor and inflru6lor : But it is from expe- 
rience and practical experiments, that we are facilitated 
in the acquifition of knowledge. 

Her tafte for the cultivation of plants and vegetable 
productions in general, appears to have been fomewhat 
confpicuous in her early years. And fhe has intimated 
an idea of this kind, which, from its juflnefs, and the 



REVIEW. 67 

delicate efifefts It has on many of the fofter paffions, in- 
duces me to notice it. — It has been a fource of aftonifh- 
ment and mortification to her, that fo many of her own, 
as well as of the other fex, can dwell, with rapture, on a 
romantic fcene of love, a piece of painting or fculpture, 
and, perhaps, upon things of more trivial importance ; — 
and yet can walk in the ftately and venerable grove, can 
gaze upon the beautifully variegated landfcape, can look 
with indifference upon the rofe and tulip, or can tread on 
a bank of violets and primrofes, without appearing to be 
affefted with any peculiar fenfations and emotions. This 
certainly proceeds from a wrong bias of the mind in its 
fixing on its firft objefts of purfuit. And parents can- 
not be too careful in the prevention of fuch errors, when 
they are forming the minds of their offspring for the 
courfes which are to affeft the paffions, and give fway 
to the behavior during life, 

I KNOW not whether it was from her mental applica- 
tion to books, inflru6lions from public or private precep- 
tors, or from her own obfervations on nature, that fhe ac- 
quired the mofl knowledge of philofophy and afi:ronomy. 
Perhaps, it was from fome advantage of the whole. I 
am, however, authorized to fay, both from her infant 
memorandums and verbal communications, that fhe did 
obtain, during her juvenility, many juft ideas refpeft- 
ing them. She has affured me, the queflions fhe ufed 
to afk, relative to the rijing and fetting of the Sun^ 



68 THEFEMALE 

Moon, &c, never ceafed agitating her mind, till ihe had 
formed proper ideas of the fpherical figure of the Earth, 
and of its diurnal and annual revolutions. In this man- 
ner, fhe acquired a fmattering of the Solar Syjlem. But 
fhe has no wifh even now, for having the appellation, 
philofopher, or ajlronomer, conferred on her. But m}^ 
readers may conclude, it is, merely on account of her 
fancied ignorance of thofe fublime fciences. 

She frequently made it her cuftom to rife in the morn- 
ing before twilight. During the Spring, Summer and 
Autumn, it feems, fhe was peculiarly attached to rural 
fpeculation. And, as though fhe had been a Shepherd- 
efs, file was frequently feen in fome adjacent field, when 
the radiant orb of day firfl gleamed on the hill tops to 
cheer and animate vegetable nature with his prolific and 
penetrating rays. 

The fludious and contemplative mind can befl inter- 
pret her motive in this, and the utility of it. To thofe, 
who have feldom or never enjoyed the delicious repafls 
of this tranquil hour, it may be faid — the mind, like the 
body, having refled from the toils and buflle of the day, 
awakes in a ftate of ferenenefs the beft calculated for con- 
templation, for the reception and impreffion of ideas, 
which this feafon, above all others, feems capable of af- 
fording. — The phyfician may alfo inform, that early rijing 
is a cordial and prefervative of health. It creates a livel}^ 
carnation on the cheek, adds vigor and aftivity to the 



REVIEW. 69 

limbs and fenfes ; which no one wishes to exchange for 
the languifhing conflitution, the pallid countenance, and 
mind ftaggering with the weight of an inaftive body of 
him, who takes too much repofe on his downy pillow. 

The dawning of day — when the fun is diffipating the 
darknefs, all nature affuming reanimation, each tribe of 
inilinfl haflening to its refpeftive occupation, and man, 
who had been confined in morbid inaftivity, reaffuming 
flrength and cheerfulnefs — is emblematic of creation rif- 
ing out of its original chaos, or non-exiftence. Surely, 
then, this fcene cannot fail of filling the philofophic mind 
with jufi: and fublime ideas, and with the purefl love and 
gratitude to that Being, who caufed them to exifi and 
who flill regulates and fuperintends the whole. 

Miss Sampson has repeatedly faid, that her mind was 
never more effeftually impreffed with the power, wifdom 
and beneficence of Deity than in the contemplation of 
his CREATION. It affords ideas the mofl familiar and dig- 
nified, and leffbns the mofi; fi;riking, captivating and beau- 
tifully fublime. 

The Earth, which is computed to be 25,038 Englifh 
miles in circumference, and to contain about 199,512,595 
fquare miles of furface, is indeed a large body.^ The 
thoughts of its conftruftion, of its convenient fituations 
for its innumerable fpecies of inhabitants, and of the 

* See Efq. Guthrie's and Dr. Morse's Geographies. 



70 THEFEMALE 

abundance of good it affords them, are fufficient to warm 
the human breafl with all that is tender and benevolent. 

But our creative faculties in their refearches are not 
limited to this globe. The fight is attraded into bound- 
lefs ether, to roam amongfl the other revolutionary orbs 
and fpangled fituations of the fixed flars.* In this, 
nature is our prompter, and reafon our guide. Here 
we are led to believe, without doubt, that fuch orbs, as 
are vifible to the eye, occupy immenfity. And the prob- 
ability is, that millions, yea, an infinite number, of fuch 
bodies are peopled by inhabitants not diffimilar to our 
own. And when we further confider the immenfe dif- 
tance there is between each of thefe planets, flars or funs, 
and the certainty of the regularity and mutual harmony, 
that for ever fubfifls between them, although they are per- 
petually whirling with the moff inconceivable velocity ; — 
what augufl and amazing conceptions do we have of that 
Being, who has fabricated their exiflence ! Surely then 
the mind, that is not loft to all fenfe of reftitude and de- 
corum, mull be filled with ideas the mofi: dignified, with 
fentiments and paffions the mofi; refined, and with grati- 
tude the mofl abundant and fincere. 

As Miss Sampson had a natural attachment to the fi;udy 
of creation, it would have been unnatural, and even crimi- 
nal, to have been negligent in forming an acquaintance 

* Considered by modern philofophers and aftronomers, as suns. 



REVIEW. 71 

with her own nature — with its important ufe and end. 
Every thing in nature, as well as in reafon, enjoins this 
as a duty. The uniformity every where obfervable in 
creation, doubtlefs, was influential and fubfervient to the 
regulation of her moral and civil life. This may excite 
an idea of novelty with thofe, who do not ftudioufly 
attend the leHures of Nature. But had we no other 
direflory, by which we couM regulate our lives and con- 
du(5l, and were it not poffible to deviate from this, there 
would be lefs danger of the confufion fo often vifible 
among mankind, of immorality, and of the fword, which 
is, even now, deluging fuch a part of the world in blood. 

From an habitual courfe of fpeculations like thefe, 
flie may be faid to have been feafonably impreffed with 
the following theoretical conclufions drawn from them : 
That human nature is born in imperfection; the great 
bujinefs of which is refinement, and confl:ant endeavors 
of approximation to perfe6tion and happinefs ; — That 
ignorance and th^ general train of evils are the natural 
offspring of inattention, and that all tend to the degra- 
dation of our nature ; — And that diligent application is 
the great requifite for improvement; which, only, can 
dignify and exalt our nature and our chara6ler. 

These traits, I venture to affirm, are fome of the pri- 
meval exertions of thofe endowments, which are fo pecu- 
liarly charaCleriilic of our reftitude and worth. They 
are leading principles of life. I take the liberty to call 



72 THEFEMALE 

them fpontaneous ; becaufe they are, more or lefs, nat- 
ural to every one. 

Impelled by defires to promote virtue and decorum, 
as well as by juftice, I here mention one more trait of 
her juvenility : and I could wifh it might not diflinguifh 
her from others at this day. — During this feafon, it may 
be faid, fhe was generally a ftranger and fliowed an aver- 
fion to all irregular and untimely diverfions. Nor is flie 
more deferving a panegyric on this account than her 
fuperintendents. She defpifed revelry, goffipping, detrac- 
tion and orgies, not becaufe flie was, originally, any bet- 
ter than others, but becaufe genuine nature exhibits no 
fuch examples — becaufe they were unfafhionable in her 
neighborhood ; — and, efpecially, becaufe her mailer and 
miftrefs not only difapproved, but prohibited them. This 
theory is certainly good, however bad her pra6lice here- 
after may appear. T^x^vc pra^lice, rather than their name 
fhould be ftruck out of time. 

Perhaps I make a greater diflinftion, than many do, 
between what is called the univerfal ruin of nature, and 
that occafioned by wrong education. We call nature 
corrupt : inflead of which, we may fay corporeal fub- 
Jlance, The immortal part of man is pure ; and it is 
the pride of genuine nature to keep it fo. It is em- 
barraffed many times by a vicious body : but it will re- 
main uncontaminated, though the body tumbles into dif- 
folution. 



REVIEW. 73 

Custom bears great fway ; even the palate may be 
made to relifh any diet by cuftom. But this argues not, 
that any thing can be received by the flomach without 
danger. We are the pilots of our children ; and on us 
they depend for fafety. They learn by imitation, as well 
as by precept. And I have either read, heard or thought, 
(no matter which) that children will always be gazing on 
the Jz^-ns their parents have lettered, — We wifli for refor- 
mation in youth ; but let age be careful to lay the foun- 
dation ftone. 

It is not prefumed, that Mifs Sampson was, at this age, 
without her particular blemiflies and foibles. Like others 
deffitute of principal advantages of education, fhe was 
doubtlefs culpable for the mifimprovement of much time 
and many talents. Whilfl her fuperintendents may cor- 
roborate this, they are ready to do her the juftice of fay- 
ing, that flie was a lover of order in their family — pun6l- 
ual in the fulfilment of her duty to them, and affiduous to 
heighten their regard for her. And that her obligations 
of this nature did not terminate here, many of her co- 
temporaries, I dare fay, can teilify. Studious to increafe 
a reciprocity of affe6lion with her relations and furround- 
ing companions, fhe was fuccefsful. To behave with tem- 
perance to Grangers, is what fhe deemed a ftep of pru- 
dence : But to fliow an indifference, or a6lually to dif- 
oblige a friend or companion, could only be repaid by 

10 



74 



THE FE MALE 



redoubled attention to reftore them to her favor, and by 
acknowledged gratitude for their lenity. 

On the whole, we mufl look upon her endowments, in 
general, during her juvenility, as the ftatuary may look 
upon his marble in the quarry ; or as any one may look 
upon a rich piece of painting or fculpture, which com- 
bines uniformity with profufion ; yet where the hand of 
the artiil has not difcovered every latent beauty, nor 
added a finifhing polifh to thofe that are apparent. 



CHAP. HI. 



Analyjis ^Mifs Sampson'^ thoughts on the rife and prog- 
re/s of the American war, with a concife account of the 
Lexington and Breed's Hill engagements — including a 
remarkable dream, 

THE motives, that led to hoftilities between North 
America and Great Britain, and the period that ter- 
minated our relation to, and dependence on, that nation, 
are events the moft fmgular and important we have ever 
known \—Jingular, becaufe, in their very nature, they 
were unnatural ; — important, becaufe, on them depended 
the future welfare and luflre of America. 

The operations of thefe affairs, both before and after 
the firfl engagement at Lexington, are well known to 
have affedled the minds, even of both fexes, throughout 



REVIEW. 75 

the Colonies, with fenfations and emotions different from 
whatever they had before experienced. Our progenitors 
had fuffered ahuoft every hardfhip in their firft fettlement 
of this country, and much bloodfhed by the Aborigines. 
But thefe are events that naturally attend the popula- 
tion of new countries ; and confequently, naturally an- 
ticipated. But when our property, which our anceftors 
had honeflly acquired, was invaded ; when our inherent 
rights were either prohibited or infringed, an alarm was 
univerfally given ; and our minds were effeftually awa- 
kened to the keeneft fenfe of the injuries, and naturally 
remained in diflrefs, till we became exempt from their 
jurifdi6lion. 

Perhaps the public may not be furprifed, that events, 
fo interefling and important, fhould arreft the attention 
of any one. — But when either of the fexes reverfes its 
common fphere of a6lion, our curiofity is excited to 
know the caufe and event. The field of war is a de- 
partment peculiarly affigned to the hero. It may, there- 
fore, appear fomewhat curious, if not interefling to many, 
when they are informed, that this uncommonly arrefted 
the attention of a young female of low birth and flation. 
Mifs Sampson is the one, who not only liftened to the 
leaft information relative to the rife and progrefs of the 
late American War ; but her thoughts were, at times, 
engroffed with it. — I will analyze them, as I find them 



76 THEFEMALE 

fketched In her credentials, or as I learn them from credi- 
ble authorities. 

Before the blockade of Bofton, March 5th, 1775, by 
the Britlfli, the Colonies had been thrown Into great con- 
fufion and dlllrefs by repeated ads of oppreffion by the 
Britlfh, that produced riots, which, In Bofton, were car- 
ried to the greateft extremities. It was not till this 
time, that MIfs Sampson obtained Information of the 
arrival of the King's troops, and of the fplrlted oppofi- 
tlon maintained by the Americans. She juftly learned, 
that It was the A6ls of the Britlfli Parliament to raife a 
revenue, without her confent, that gave rife to thefe cruel 
and unjuft meafures.'^ Had flie poffeffed Information and 
experience on the fubjeft, like many others, flie would 
doubtlefs, like them, have feen the impropriety, that Eng- 
land fliould have an unlimited controul over us, who are 
feparated from her by the vaft Atlantic, at leaft, three 
thoufand miles. 

But fo It was. — From the firft eftabliflied fettlement in 
North America, to the Declaration of our Independence^ 
we acknowledged the foverelgnty of the Britlfli Govern- 
ment ; and thus continued tributary to her laws. And 
as though it had not been enough, that flie had driven 



15 There was no '• blockade of Bof- i, 1774. Several Britifti regiments 

ton, March 5, 1775," afide from the were llationed in Bolton from the 

clofmg of the port, under the " Bofton middle of June, 1774. "Without her 

Port Bill," which went into eflfeft June confent ! " Without whofe confent ? 



REVIEW. 77 

many of our anceftors from their native clime, by the 
intolerant and unrelenting fpirit of her religious perfe- 
cution, to feek a new world, and to fuffer the diftrefs 
naturally confequent — they infifled ftill, that our prop- 
erty, our C'Ondu^ and even our lives muH be under their 
abfolute controul. Thus, we remained fubjeft to the 
caprice of one, the influential chicanery of a fecond, and 
the arbitrary decifion of the majority. And it is not my 
prerogative to fay, we fliould not have remained loyal 
fubjefts of the Crown, to this day, had not our affeftions 
been alienated by the adminiflration of laws, in their 
nature, unjuft, and calculated to injure none, but thofe 
the leaft deferving of injury. 

Perhaps, there is no period in our lives, in which the 
principles of humanity and benevolence can better take 
root, than in that of the juvenile age. And it has been 
a rare inflance, that the fituation of any nation has been 
fo effecSlually calculated to bring thefe to the aft of ex- 
periment, as ours was at the jun6lure of our revolution. 
The diflreffed fituation of the inhabitants of Maffachu- 
fetts, and particularly of thofe in the metropolis, after the 
paffing of the Port-Bill, can never be remembered with- 
out flarting the tear of humanity, and exciting the indig- 
nation of the world. 

Miss Sampson, though not an eye-witnefs of this dif- 
trefs, was not infenfible of it. She learned that the in- 
habitants of Bofl:on were confined by an unprovoked 



78 THEFEMALE 

enemy ; that they were not only upon the point of per- 
iiliing for want of fuflenance, but that many had been 
aflually maffacred, their public and private buildings of 
elegance fhamefully defaced, or quite demoliflied ; and 
that many of her own fex were either raviflied, or de- 
luded to the facrifice of their chaflity, which flie had 
been taught to revere, even as dear as life itfelf. 

These thoughts filled her mind with fenfations, to 
which fhe had hitherto been unaccuflomed — with a kind 
of enthufiafm, which ftrengthened and increafed with the 
progreffion of the war; and which, peradventure, fixed 
her mind in a fituation, from which, fhe afterwards found 
it impoffible to be extricated, until the accomplifliment of 
the obje6l, after which it afpired. 

During her refidence in Mr. Thomas's family, they 
granted her many domellic privileges ; — fuch as the ufe 
of a number of fowls, fheep, &c. upon condition, that fhe 
would appropriate the profit arifing from them to the 
attainment of objedls ufeful and ornamental. This was 
an effe6lual method to inure her to method and a proper 
ufe of money. She applied herfelf to the bufinefs with 
diligence and fuccefs. And, at this time, fhe had accu- 
mulated a fmall flock, which was appropriated, agreea- 
bly to her notion, perfeftly coincident to the injundlion. 
The poor people of Bofl:on were reduced to the piteous 
neceffity of afking charity, or contribution from the coun- 
try inhabitants. This was no fooner known to her than 



REVIEW. 79 

ilie experienced an anxiety, that could brook no controul, 
until flie had an opportunity of cajiing in her mite : Upon 
which, flie fincerely congratulated herfelf, not upon the 
principle, that any one owed her any more gratitude; 
but upon the confcioufnefs of having endeavoured to 
relieve the innocent and diftreffed. 

Though I am as much difmclined to have faith in com- 
mon dreams as in any invented fable, or to fpend time 
in reciting their ominous interpretations; yet as they 
proceed from that immortal part of man, which no one 
ought to flight, they may fometimes be of ufe. I can- 
not help noticing, in this place, a phenomenon prefented 
to the mind of Mifs Sampson during her no6turnal re- 
pofe, April 15, 1775, in the fifteenth year of her age, and 
but four days before the battle at Lexington. I infert 
the principal part of it in her own language, and fome of 
the latter part, verbatim.'^ 

"As I flept, I thought, as the Sun was declining be- 
neath our hemifphere, an unufual foftnefs and ferene- 
nefs of weather invited me abroad to perambulate the 
Works oi Nature, I gladly embraced the opportunity; 

16 In the MS. memoir of Deborah high-flown language. It is there rep- 

Sampfon, ftie is reprefented as having refented as a prophecy of the Amer- 

had this dream on three fucceffive ican Revolution. Pretty well for a 

nights, the laft of which immediately girl of fourteen ! It is difficult to 

preceded the " Lexington Alarm." believe that this dream ever had any 

Credat Judaeus Apella, iiott ego. In exiftence, fave in the brain of Herman 

that memoir, the dream is told with Mann. It is a pity to fpoil with it 

much enlargement, and in extremely fo much white paper. 



8o THEFEMALE 

and with eager fleps and penfive mind, quickly found 
myfelf environed in the adjacent fields, which were deco- 
rated with the greateft profufion of delights. The gentle 
afcending ground on one fide, upon which were grazing 
numerous kinds of herds ; the pleafant and fertile valley 
and meadow, through which meandered fmall rivulets on 
the other ; the afpiring and venerable grove, either before 
or behind me; the zephyrs, which were gently fanning 
the boughs, and the fweet caroling of the birds in the 
branches ; the husbandmen, intent upon their honorable 
and moft useful employment, agriculture; the earth, then 
cloathed with vegetation, which already filled the air 
with ravifliing odours ; — all confpired to fill my mind 
with fenfations hitherto unknown, and to dire6l it to a 
realization of the Author of their being whofe power, 
wifdom and goodnefs are, as they manifefl, as infinite as 
they are perpetual. 

Studious in contemplating the objefls that furrounded 
me, I fhould have been barbarous, and perhaps, have de- 
prived myfelf of advantages, which I never might again 
poffefs, had I abruptly quitted my ramble. I prolonged 
it, till I found myfelf advanced upon a lofty eminence 
that overlooked a far more extenfive and beautiful prof- 
pe6l, both of the ocean and continent. 

Having reached the fummit, I fat down to indulge 
fuch thoughts as the fcene feemed altogether capable of 
infpiring. — How much, thought I, is it to be regretted, 



REVIEW. 8i 

that I am not always filled with the fame fenfations, with 
fuch fublime ideas of creation, and of that Being, who 
has caufed it to exifl ! Indeed, I fancied, I could joyfully 
have fpent my life in refearches for knowledge in this 
delightfome way. 

But how great was my aflonifhment and horror at the 
reverfion of the fcene ! An unufual appearance, different 
from whatever my eyes beheld, or imagination fuggefled, 
was, at once, cafl on every thing that furrounded me. 
The {ky, which before was fo pleafant and ferene, fud- 
denly lowered, and became, inftantaneoufly, veiled with 
blacknefs. Though not altogether like a common tem- 
pefl, inceffant lightning and tremendous peals of thunder 
feemed to lacerate the very vaults of nature. The am- 
brofial fweets of vegetation were exchanged for the nau- 
feous flenches of fulphur and other once condenfed 
bodies, that feemed to float in ether. 

Happening, at this inflant, to cafl my eyes upon the 

liquid element, nezv amazement was added to the fcene. 

Its furface, which before was unruffled, was now properly 

convulfed, and feemed piled in mountains to the fky. 

The fhips, that before were either anchored, or riding 

with tranquillity to their harbors, at once difmafted, dafh- 

ing againfl rocks and one another, or foundering amidfl 

the furges. The induftrious farmers, many of whom 

were vifited by their conforts in their rural occupations, 

feemed difperfed, and flying for refuge to the nearefl 
II 



82 THEFEMALE 

place of fafety. And the birds and beftial tribes feemed 
at a lofs where to go, being in as great confufion as the 
elements. 

Filled with aftonifhment at this diftraffion of the 
elements, without any fixed precaution what method to 
take for fafety; on the one fide, the earth, a volcano, 
which fhook with the perpetual roar of thunder ; and on 
the other fide, the liquid element foaming to the clouds 
— my reafon feemed entirely to forfake me, on beholding 
* the mofi: hideous ferpent roll itfelf from the ocean. He 
advanced, and feemed to threaten carnage and deJirti5lion 
wherever he went. At length, he approached me, with 
a velocity, which I expefted would inftantly have cofl: me 
my life. I happened to be dire6led homeward ; but look- 
ing back, and perceiving the Jlreets, through which he 
paffed, drenched in blood, I fell into a fwoon. In this con- 
dition, I know not how long I remained. At length, I 
found myfelf, (as I really was) in my own apartment; 
where I hoped not to be again fliocked with the terrific 
and impending defi;ru6lion of the elements or monjler. 

But to my repeated grief and amazement, I beheld the 
door of the apartment open of itfelf; and the ferpent, in 
a more frightful form and venomous in looks, reappeared. 
He was of immenfe bignefs ; his mouth opened wide, 
and teeth of great length. His tongue appeared to have 
a JJiarp Jling in the end. He entered the room ; but it 
was not of fufiicient dimenfions for his leno^th. As he 



REVIEW. 83 

advanced towards my bed-fide, his head raifed, as nearly 
as I conjeftured, about five or Cix feet, his eyes refembled 
da//s oi fire, I was frightened beyond defcription. I 
thought I covered my head and tried to call for affiftance, 
but could make no noife. 

At length, I heard a voice faying, " Arife, fiand on 
your feet, gird your/elf, and prepare to encounter your 
enemy r — This feemed impoffible; as I had no weapon of 
defence. I rofe up, flood upon the bed; but before I 
had time to drefs, the ferpe^it approached, and feemed 
refolved to fwallow me whole. I thought I called on 
God for affiftance in thefe diflreffing moments : And at 
that infi;ant, I beheld, at my feet, a bludgeon, which I 
readily took into my hand, and immediately had a fevere 
combat with the enemy. He retreated towards the door, 
from whence he firfi; entered. I purfued him clofely, and 
perceived, as he lowered his head, he attempted to fi:rike 
me with his tail. His tail refembled that of a fifit, more 
than that of 'Si ferpent. It was divided into feveral parts, 
and on each branch there were capital letters of yellow 
gilt. I purfued him, after he left the apartment, feveral 
rods, ftriking him every opportunity ; till at length, I dif- 
located every joint, which fell in pieces to the ground : 
But the pieces reunited, though not in the form of a fer- 
pent, but in that of an Ox, He came at me a fecond 
time, roaring and trying to gore me with his horns. But 
I renewed the attack with fuch refolution, and beat him 



84 THE FEMALE 

in fuch a manner, that he fell again in pieces to the 
ground. I ran to gather them; but on furvey, found 
them nothing but a gelly, — And I immediately awoke." 

This very fmgular Dream had an uncommon effe6l on 
her mind, and feemed to prefage fome great event. The 
novelty and momentous ideas it infpired, induced her to 
record it ; but fhe kept it fecreted from others. At that 
time fhe attempted no particular interpretation of it. 

Although the nature and limits of thefe Memoirs will 
not admit of a conneded fketch of the American War ; 
yet, as the motives that led to open hoflilities, and the 
adions, in which the firft blood was flied, fo peculiarly 
occupied the mind of a young female, I cannot help fol- 
lowing the example : efpecially, as thefe were the opening 
of the great drama, fo fmgular in its nature and impor- 
tant in its confequences ; and in which fhe afterwards be- 
came fo diftinguiflied an actress.'^ Thefe, added to a 
prompt regard and honor to the memory of thofe heroes ^ 
who fell the firil facrifices in the cause of their country, 
induce me to dwell, for a few minutes on thofe fcenes ; 
the remembrance of which, while they fire the mind and 
paffions with genuine love of liberty and patriotism, 
mufl; bring up recolleflions, fhocking and melancholy to 
every tender mind. 

17 The long account which follows memoir, as wholly irrelevant. It was 
of the opening events of the Ameri- evidently inferted here merely to fill 
can Revolution is omitted in the MS. up the fpace. 



REVIEW. 85 

The repeated and unjuft A Sis of Parliament, which 
they more ftrenuoufly endeavoured to enforce on the Col- 
onies, feemed to threaten general deftrudtion ; unlefs they 
would, in One mutual Union, take every efife6lual method 
of refiftance. For this purpofe, a Congress had been 
formed ; whofe firfl bufmefs was to remonflrate and pe- 
tition for redrefs. At the fame time, they had the pre- 
caution to take methods for defence, in cafe their voice 
fhould not be heard in Parliament. Great encourage- 
ment was given for the manufa6lure of all kinds of mili- 
tary ilores and apparatus. The militia were trained to 
the ufe of arms. 

Whilst things were going on in this manner, a de- 
tachment of troops commanded by Colonel Smith and 
Major PiTCAiRN were fent from Boflon to poffefs or de- 
flroy fome (lores at Concord, twenty miles from Bolton. 
At Lexington, a few companies were colle6led for the 
purpofe of manoeuvring, or to oppofe the incurfions of 
the Britifh. Thefe, as fome accounts fay, were ordered 
by the Britifli commander, with the epithet of damnd 
rebels, to difperfe. Whether they fo readily complied 
with the injun6tion as he wifhed, or not, he ordered his 
troops to fire upon them ; and eight men were inflantly 
the viftims of death. 

After the difperfion of the militia, the troops pro- 
ceeded to Concord and deflroyed a few ftores. But by 
this time the militia had colle6led from the adjacent 



86 THEFEMALE 

towns, and feemed unanimoufly refolved to avenge, by 
fevere retaliation, the death of their innocent brethren. 
This the troops effe6lually experienced during their pre- 
cipitate march to Bofton. 

Who but the a6lors and fpeftators, being themfelves 
unaccuftomed to fcenes of this kind, can bell defcribe the 
anguifli of mind and emotions of paffion excited by it ! 
The lofs of the Americans was fmall compared to the 
Britifli. But view them once tranquil and happy in the 
midft of focial and domeftic compact. No mufic more 
harfh than the note of the fliepherd, of friendfhip and in- 
nocent glee. With the lark, each morn was welcomed, 
as a prelude to new joy and fatisfaftion. — Now behold 
the reverfe of the fcene! As if nature had been con- 
vulfed, and with jufl indignation had frowned on fome 
unpardonable offence, their peace, and every focial and 
private endearment was, at once, broken up. But JJte 
flands acquitted ; whilft the pride of man could be fatiated 
only with the dear price oi \kv^ fcotcrge — the havoc oi war. 
On that fatal day, when their fields and flreets, which had 
fo often re-echoed with rural felicity, fuddenly affumed 
the afpe6l of the regular battalia, refounding with nothing 
but the din of war, and the agonies of expiring relatives 
and friends, the Earth feemed to precipitate her diurnal 
revolution, and to leave the Sun in frightful afpe6l. The 
fhepherd's flocks fl:ood aghaft. Birds forgot to carol, and 
hafl:ened away with aftoniflied mutenefs. And think — 



REVIEW. 87 

while the tender female breaft turned from the fcene in 
diftraftion, how it mufl have humanized the moil favage 
temper, and have melted it into fympathy, even towards 
a relentlefs enemy. 

The news of this battle fpread with the rapidity of a 
meteor. All America was roufed. And many compa- 
nies of militia, from remote parts, marched day and 
night, almoft without intermiffion, to the relief of their 
friends in Maffachufetts. Thus, in a fiiort time, the en- 
virons of Bofton exhibited, to the view of the enemy, the 
formidable appearance of 20,000 men. 

This event had the fame efife6l on the mind of Mifs 
Sampson, as it had on thofe of every one, that was awake 
to the introduction of obje6ls fo interefling and impor- 
tant ; and whofe feelings were ready to commiferate the 
fufferings of any of the human race. 

On June the 5th, the fame year, Congrefs unanimoufly 
appointed George Washington, Efq. to the chief com- 
mand of the American Army. He is a native of Vir- 
ginia: And though he is a human being, his abilities 
and improvements can never be called in queftion. He 
had acquired great reputation in the execution of a 
Colonel's commiffion in the French war. He accepted 
this appointment with a diffidence, which, while it beft 
interpreted his wifdom, evinced the fidelity of his heart, 
and his patriotic zeal for the fulfilment of the impor 



88 THEFEMALE 

tant trufi repofed in him * — Of this illuflrious perfonage, 
I may have further occafion to fpeak in the progrefs of 
thefe Memoirs. 

Lexington battle was foon fucceeded by that of Breed's 
Hill in Charleftown, Maffachufetts, a mile and an half 
from Bofton. 

The 1 6th of this month, a detachment of Provincials 
under the command of Col Prescott, was ordered to 
intrench on Bunker's Hill the enfuing night. By fome 
miftake, Breed's Hill was marked out for the intrench- 
ment, inftead oi Bunkers: It being high and large like 
it, and on the furthermoft part of the peninfula next to 
Bofton. They were prevented going to work till mid- 
night. They then purfued their bufmefs with alacrity : 
And fo profound was their filence, that they were not 
heard by the Britiili on board their veffels lying in the 
harbour. At day-break, they had thrown up a fmall re- 
doubt ; which was no fooner noticed by the Lively, a man 
of war, than her cannon gave them a very heavy falute. 

The firing immediately rouzed the Britifh camp in 
Boflon, and their fleet to behold a novelty they had little 
expe6led. This diverted their attention from a fcheme 
they meant to have profecuted the next day ; which was 
now called to drive the Americans from the hill. 

Notwithstanding an inceffant cannonade from the 

*■ He arrived at Head Quarters in Cambridge on the 2d of July fol- 
lowing. 



REVIEW. 89 

enemy's iliips, floating batteries and a fort upon Cop's 
hill in Bofton, oppofite the American redoubt, they con- 
tinued laborious till noon, with the lofs of only one man. 
By fome furprifmg overfight, one detachment had la- 
bored, inceffantly, four hours, without being relieved, or 
fupplied with any refrefhment. 

By this time the Americans had thrown up a fmall 
breafl;-work, extending from the eafl: fide of their redoubt 
towards the bottom of the hill ; but were prevented com- 
pleting it by the intolerable fire of the enemy. 

Just after twelve o'clock, the day fair and exceffively 
hot, a great number of boats and barges were filled with 
regular troops and apparatus, who fail to Charleftown. 
The Generals, Howe and Pigot, take the command. 
After they were landed, they form, and remain in that 
pofition, till they are joined by another detachment, con- 
fifting of infantry, grenadiers and marines ; which make 
in all, about 3000. 

During thefe operations, the Generals, Warren and 
Pemeroy, join the American force. General Putnam 
continues ambitious in giving aid as occafion requires.'^ 



18 General Jofeph Warren was on ferve as a volunteer. He had been 

the field that day, but with no afferted chofen major-general by the Provin- 

authority. On entering the redoubt cial Congrefs of Maffachufetts only 

thrown up by the troops, Colonel three days before. He gave no order 

Prefcott offered him the command ; during the a6lion, though his prefence 

but Warren replied that he had not and example were of great fervice. 

received his commiffion, and Ihould He took a mufket, and mingled in 



90 THEFEMALE 

They are ordered to take up a poft and rail fence, and to 
fet it not quite contiguous to another, and to fill the 
vacancy with fome newly mown grafs, as a flight defence 
to the mufketry of the enemy. They are impatiently 
waiting the attack. 

In Boflon, the Generals, Clinton and Burgoyne, had 
taken their fland on Cop's Hill to contemplate the bloody 
operations now commencing. General Gage had pre- 
vioufly determined, when any works Ihould be raifed in 
Charleftown by the Americans, to burn the town : And 
whilfl his troops were advancing nearer to the American 
lines, orders came to Cop's Hill for the execution of the 
refolution. Accordingly, a carcafs was difcharged, which 
fat fire to the hither part of the town ; which, being fired, 
in other parts by men for that purpofe, was, in a few min- 
utes, in a general flame. 

What fcenes are now before us ! There, a handfome 
town, containing 300 houfes, and about 200 other build- 
ings, wrapt in one general conflagration ; whofe curling 
flames and fable fmoke, towering to the clouds, feem to 
befpeak heavy vengeance and defl;ru(?i;ion ! In Bofl;on, 



the thickeft of the fight. — [Frothing- the ranks with a mufket in hand, 
ham's Siege ofBoJioiij Loring's Htui- He was at the rail-fence. General 
dred Bojloii Orators ^^ Ifrael Putnam was alfo at the rail- 
General Seth Pomeroy, a veteran fence, in command of the Conne6licut 
who had behaved with great gallantry troops, and rendered important fer- 
at Louisburg, alfo ferved as a volun- vice. — [Frothingham's Siege of Bof- 
teer on Bunker Hill, and fought in ton^ 



REVIEW. 91 

fee the houfes, piazzas and other heights crowded with 
the anxious inhabitants, and thofe of the Britifh foldiery, 
who are not called upon duty! Yonder, the adjacent 
hills and fields are lined with Americans of both fexes, 
and of all ages and orders. — Now turn to the American 
lines and intrenchments. Behold them facing the moft 
formidable enemy, who are advancing towards them with 
folemn and majeflic dignity! In a few moments, mull 
be exhibited the moll horrid and affefling fcene, that 
mankind are capable of producing ! 

Although the Americans are ill fupplied with llores ; 
and many of their mulkets without bayonets ; yet they 
are generally good markfmen, being accullomed to hunt- 
ing. The Britifh move on flowly, inllead of a quick Hep. 
The provincials are ordered to referve their fire, till the 
troops advance within ten or twelve rods ; when they be- 
gin a tremendous difcharge of mufketry, which is re- 
turned by the enemy, for a few minutes, without advan- 
cing a yard. But the llream of American fire is fo incef- 
fant, and does fuch allonilliing execution, that the regu- 
lars break and fall back in confufion. They are again 
with difficulty rallied; but march with apparent reluc- 
tance to the intrenchments. The Americans at the re- 
doubt, and thofe who are attacked by the Britilh infantry 
in their lines leading from it to the water, are ordered, as 
ufual, to referve their fire. — The fence proves a poor 
Ihelter : and many are much more expofed than neceffity 



92 



THE FEMALE 



obliges. So that the Britiili cannot, in future, ftigmatize 
them with the name of cowards, who will fly at the flght 
of a grenadiers cap, nor for fighting in an unfair manner. 
They wait till the enemy is within fix rods ; when the 
earth again trembles with their fire. The enemy are 
mown down in ranks, and again are repulfed. General 
Clinton obferves this, and paffes over from Bofl;on with- 
out waiting for orders. The Britifli officers are heard to 
fay, " It is downright butchery to lead the troops on afrejh 
to the lines!' But their honor is at fl;ake ; and the attack 
is again attempted. The officers are feen to ufe the moil 
violent geflures with their fwords to rally their troops : 
and though there is an almofl: infuperable averfion in 
them to renew the attack, the officers are once more fuc- 
cefsful. — The Americans are in want of ammunition, but 
cannot procure any. Whilfl they are ordered to retreat 
within the fort, the enemy make a decifive pufli: the 
officers goad on the foldiers with their fwords — redouble 
their fire on all fides ; and the redoubt is attacked on 
three fides at once. The Americans are, unavoidably, 
ordered to retreat: But they delay, and fight with the 
butt end of their guns, till the redoubt is two thirds filled 
with regular troops. — In their retreat, which led over a 
neck leading from Cambridge to Charleflown, they were 
again in the greatefl; jeopardy of being cut off by the 
Glafgow man of war, floating batteries, &c. But they 
effeded it without much lofs, and with greater regularity, 



REVIEW. 93 

than could be expefted from men, who had never before 
feen an engagement. General Warren, being in the 
rear, was fliot in the back part of his head ; and having 
clapped his hand to the wound, dropped down dead. 

The number of Am^ericans engaged, including thofe 
who dared to crofs the neck and join them, was only 
1500. Their lofs was fmall compared with the Britifh. 
The killed, wounded and miffing were 453; of which, 
1 39 were flain. Of the Britifh, the killed and wounded 
were 1054; of which, 226 were killed.'^ 

It has been faid by a veteran officer, who was at the 
battles of Dettingen, Minden, and feveral others, in Ger- 
many — that for the time it lafied, he never knew any 
thing equal it. The Britifli difplayed great heroic bra- 
very : And there was a perpetual fheet of fire from the 
Americans for half an hour ; and the aftion was intenfely 
hot for double that time. 

Among the flain of the Britifli, they particularly lament 
the deaths of Lieut. Col. Abercromby, and Major Pitcairn, 
who occafioned the firfl fliedding of blood at Lexington. 
Among the Americans, we lament, in particular, the fall 



19 The Britifh force in the battle Britifh force was 2,000 ; Marfhall, 
was flated by General Gage, in his Ramfay, and Barry, Americans, and 
official account, as fomething over Thacher, in his " Mihtary Journal," 
2,000. It would feem, therefore, that fay 3,000. Contemporary MSS., and 
half their number were killed or the Journal of the Provincial Con- 
wounded. Stedman, Biffett, and Lord grefs, fay, between 3,000 and 4,000. 
Mahon, Britifli hiftorians, fay the The American force was about 1,500. 



94 THEFEMALE 

of General Warren, the Colonels, Gardner, Parker, 
Chelmsford, df^.^" But the fall of General Warren is 
the moil effedually felt. By his fall, the public fuftain 
the lofs of the warm patriot and politician, the eminent 
orator and phyfician; with which were blended the 
other endearing and ornamental accomplifliments. And 
though an amiable confort and a number of fmall chil- 
dren had rendered his exiflence more defirable ; he dif- 
tinguifhed himfelf this day, by fighting as a volunteer ; 
and fell an illullrious example in the cause of liberty 
and the rights of man. 

About this time, the country inhabitants, near Bofton, 
were frequently alarmed by idle and ignorant reports, 
that the Britifh troops had broken through the American 
lines, were penetrating, with the greateft rapidity, into 
the country, ravaging, plundering and butchering all be- 
fore them. And more than once, was Mifs Sampson per- 
fuaded to join her female circle, who were as ignorant of 
what paffed in the armies as herfelf, to feek fecurity in 
the dreary defert, or deferted cottage. But fhe peculiarly 
noted the day of Breed's Hill engagement, as did many 

20 General Warren was killed juft as Mofes Parker, were mortally wound- 

the Americans were leaving the well- ed. Gardner died, July 3 ; Parker 

contefted field. It was with the great- died, a prifoner, July 4. Major Wil- 

eft reludance that he left the re- lard Moore, who that day led Doo- 

doubt. He was retreating flowly, httle's regiment, was alfo mortally 

which brought him next to the Brit- wounded. There was no officer of 

ifh. Colonel Thomas Gardner of the name of Chelmsford in the battle, 

Cambridge, and Lieutenant-colonel (See Frothingham's Siege of Bojlon.) 



REVIEW. 95 

others, by the inceffant roar of the cannon. A fertile 
eminence, near which fhe lived, is a ftanding monument 
of the penfive thoughts and refledions fhe experienced 
during the melancholy day."' She has faid, that, for fome 
days after the battle, having had an account of it, fleep 
was a flranger to her. It feems, her attention was of a 
different nature from that of many of her fex and youth. 
Whilft they were only dreading the confequences, fhe was 
exploring the caufe of the eruption. This, as flie had 
heard, or naturally apprehended would terminate, at leaft, 
in New-England's wretchednefs or glory. 

It is, indeed, too much to fport with the lives of any 
animals. But when a large number of men, many of 
whom, perhaps, are involuntarily led into the field, and 
many more, without knowing or caring for what reafon, — 
march within a few paces of each other, that their lives 
may be made a fairer mark for the fport of the avarice, 
pride and ambition of a few licenced incendiaries — na- 
ture muft recoil, or the whole fyftem of intelleds forget 
there is a higher dignity of man. 

She had frequent opportunity of viewing the American 
foldiers, as they marched from one part to another. — One 

21 The meaning is, fhe heard the Hill, a furious cannonade was kept 

cannon, on the day of the battle, from up on the American lines in Rox- 

a hill near her refidence. The dif- bury, to divert the attention of the 

tance is at leaft thirty miles. Befides right wing of the American army, 

the firing from the Britifh fhips and and to prevent reinforcements being 

floating batteries, and from Copp's fent to the troops on Bunker Hill. 



96 THEFEMALE 

day, having gone fome diftance to fee a number of regi- 
ments, her curiofity was arrelled by an officer, who boafted 
much of his courage and heroic achievements. A young 
female domeflic being near him, he thus addreffed her : — 
" You Slut, why are you not better dreffed when you come 
to fee fo many officers 2iX\d/oldiers f' — Mifs Sampson fee- 
ing her confufed, thus repHed to the arrogant coxcomb : 
— " Elegance in drefs, indeed. Sir, becomes the fair, as 
well as your fex. But how mufl that foldier feel, who 
values himfelf fo highly for his courage, his great ex- 
ploits, &c. (perhaps where there is no danger,) fhould 
\hey for fake him in the field of battle I " 

Hostilities having commenced throughout the Colo- 
nies, a new and effeftual fchool was opened for the hero, 
politician and ftatefman ; and which was a ftimulation, 
even to the philofophic moralift. The confequence of 
which, was the declaration of our Independence, July 4, 
1776. This momentous event took place two hundred 
and eighty four years after the difcovery of America by 
Columbus — one hundred and feventy, fmce the firfl ef- 
tablifhed fettlement in Virginia — and a hundred and fifty 
fix, fmce the fettlement of Plymouth in Maffachufetts ; 
which were the firft permanent fettlements in North Amer- 
ica. And whilft this Era will forever be held a Jubilee 
by every votary of American Freedom, it muft bring to 
our minds two very affe6ling periods : — Firft, the time 
when we, with the moft heartfelt fatisfaftion, acknowl- 



REVIEW. 97 

edged \}i\.^ fovereignty oi o\xx parent country : And fecond- 
ly, when we were diftrejfed, and like her dutiful offspring 
afked her lenity and compaffion — but could not Jkare, even 
in her parental affeflion / 

But out of great tribulation, it is believed, anguijh has 
not been the greateft refult. Thofe neceffitous events 
were, doubtlefs, conducive to the raifmg our Empire to 
that rare height of perfe6lion in the moral, as well as in 
the political world ; in which it now fo confpicuoufly 
fhines. 



C H A P. IV. 

Miss Sampson continues in Mr, Thomas's family after 
fhe is of age, without meeting any incidents more uncom- 
mon, than her increafing propenfities for learning and 
the mode of interefiing herfelf in the Cause of her 
Country. — Engages in a public fchool part of two years 
fuccefjively, — An outcry of religion in her neighborhood, 
— Her thoughts upon it, — Summary of what fJie deemed 
the truefi religion, 

WE are now to view the Itate of Mifs Sampson's 
mind comparable to him, who has planned fome 
great achievement, which, he believes, will be of the 
greateft utility and importance to him; but, who finds 
13 



98 THEFEMALE 

his opportunities, rather than abilities, inadequate to its 
completion. 

I KNOW not that fhe ever was deferving the name of 
ficklenefs in her purfuits ; yet, I have the ftrongell reafon 
to conclude, that her mind, during her juvenility, was fo 
crowded with inventive ideas for improvements, as to 
throw it into uncommon anxiety. And notwithftanding 
her invention propofed many fchemes ; yet, as they tended 
to the fame comparative obje6i:, they ought rather to be 
applauded than afperfed. Neither would I think it grat- 
ifying to any, to account for this upon any other fcore. 
To affign no other motive for thefe intelleftual exertions, 
than the attainment of gewgaws, fuperfluity in drefs and 
the night confumption, would not only be doing injuflice 
to her, but mentioning a train of evils, which, it muft be 
confeffed, chara6lerize too great a part of our youth at 
this day ; and which, every legiflator fliould difcourage, 
and every parent prohibit. 

Before this time, Congrefs had taken efife6iual meth- 
ods to encourage the manufa6lure of our own apparel, 
and every other confumption in America. And the re- 
fleffcion is pleafmg, that Mr. Thomas's family was not the 
only one, who had not the reformation to begin. As 
though they had always been apprehenfive of the utility 
and honor they fhould gain by it, they had always prac- 
tifed it ; and the voice of Congrefs was only a ftimula- 
tion: So that Mifs Sampson's employments were not 



REVIEW. 99 

much altered. And fhe has, fomewhere, fuggefted — that 
had we continued this mofl laudable and ever recom- 
mendable employment, in the fame degree, to this day, 
we fliould not only have increafed commerce with many 
foreign nations ; but, have retained immenfe fums of 
money, which are now piled fhining Tfionuments of the 
opulence of other nations, and of our own vanity and 
inattention. In this opinion, I am confident, every well- 
wiflier to his country is flill ready to concur.* 

Necessity, our dreadful, but ufeful, friend, having 
taught us the advantages of our own manufaftures for 
the fupport and conveniences of life, continued ffcill fa- 
vorable to our intelle6lual powers, and prompted them to 
the ftudy of arts and fciences. The propriety of this is 
ratified by our Independence. Nor was Mifs Sampson 
the only one, who realized it : But fhe has often faid, flie 
hoped every one, who had, or may have, the fame propen- 
fities for it, may have freer accefs to it. Her fituation of 
mind was very applicable to the maxim — " Learning has 
no enemy but ignorance!' She was not now of age ; but 

* Miss Sampson has juft Ihown me pieces oi lawn and i?iu/li?i, which 
were manufa6lured with her own hands, foon after the commencement 
of the war. I confider them as nothing more than fpecimens of Colum- 
bian abilities, genius and tajle. It is wounding to me to hear — " We can 
buy cheaper than we can inake^ No doubt — And fo long as we encour- 
2Lge. foreign manufaHure by fending them ourjpecie, there is no doubt, but 
they can fell cheaper than we can make. And even when they have en- 
tirely drained us of our money, there will be one cheerful certainty left — 
they will laugh at our c?-edulity. 



loo THEFEMALE 

fhe refolved, when that period fhould arrive, to devife 
fome more effeftual method to attain it. 

It is natural for fear to fubfide, when danger flees out 
at the door. This, doubtlefs, was the cafe with many 
good people in Maffachufetts, after the feat of war was 
removed to difl;ant parts ; when they were not fo fuddenly 
alarmed by its havoc. To whatever degree this may 
have been the cafe with Mifs Sampson, it appears, that its 
firfl; imprefflons, infl;ead of being obliterated by time, were 
more ftrongly impreffed on her mind. In faft, it feems, 
flie only needed a different formation to have demonftrated 
in aflions what flie was obliged to conceal through re- 
flraint of nature and cuftom. 

Just before flie was eighteen, 1779, fhe was employed, 
much to her Hking, fix months in the warm feafon, in 
teaching a public fchool in Middleborough." In this 

22 This fchool was taught in the boardedinthehoufeofAbner Bourne, 
warm feafon of 1779, when Deborah which now ftands oppofite to Peirce 
had completed her eighteenth year. Academy. — \^Rev. Stilhnan Pratt.'] 
Until the age of eighteen, fhe was The range of ftudy in her fchool 
bound to the fervice of Mr. Thomas, was not extenfive ; and it may be 
Her term of fervice was now expired, taken as a fpecimen of the fummer 
and fhe was at liberty. The fchool fchools generally in New England 
taught by her was at the village of at this time. The books ufed were 
Middleborough Four Corners, two "The New-England Primer," here 
miles from the houfe of Deacon and there a SpeUing-Book, " The Pfal- 
Thomas. The houfe in which fhe ter," and a few Teflaments. A flieet 
taught flood on the fpot where Major of paper was fometimes allowed to 
Tucker now refides ; the building the boys for the exercife of penman- 
having fubfequently been removed fhip, while the chief occupation of the 
to Water Street, and occupied as girls was to learn to knit and few ! 
a dwelling-houfe. At this time, fhe One forward lad brought to fchool a 



REVIEW. loi 

bufinefs, experience more effe6tually convinced her, that 
her edtuation, rather than her endowments, was inadequate 
to the taflc. But her fuccefs more than equalled her ex- 
peftations, both with regard to the proficiency of her 
pupils, and the approbation of her employers. 

The next feafon her engagement was renewed for the 
fame term in the fame fchool. She now found her tafk 
eafier, and her fuccefs greater, having had the advantage 
of a good man fchool the preceding winter. The em- 
ployment was very agreeable to her ; efpecially, as it was 
a fource of much improvement to herfelf. 

Not far from this time, there began to be an uncom- 
mon agitation among many people in her neighborhood ; 
as had been, or foon followed, in many towns in New- 
England. This penetrating diforder was not confined to 
old age. It violently feized on the middle-aged, and as 
ihe remarked, even children caught the contagion. There 
are but few mifchiefs, that war is not capable of effedling.^^ 



dilapidated copy of Fifher's " Young 23 It is to be hoped that very few 

Man's Beft Companion." A few books readers of this volume will fympa- 

which Deborah brought to the fchool thize with the irreligious fpirit exhib- 

for her own improvement completed ited in thefe remarks, and in thofe 

the catalogue. Such is the account which follow. They are very pro- 

fhe gives in the MS. memoir, where perly omitted in the MS. memoir, 

it is implied, though not expreffly The fafts of the cafe, derived from 

ftated, that "The AlTembly's Cate- authentic fources, were the follow- 

chifm" was taught in this, as in other ing : — 

fchools, every Saturday. When the During the enfuing autumn and 

editor taught fchool, forty years ago, winter, there was in Middleborough, 

this was the pra6lice in Maffachufetts. and in feveral other towns, an unufual 



I02 



THE FE MALE 



But fome well-minded people were ready to term this 
the working of the Spirit^ of the Holy Ghofl — a reforma- 



=:^. 



intereft felt in the great concerns of 
religion. Notwithilanding the heavy 
preffure of the war, many of the peo- 
ple were led to feel that there are 
higher interefts than thofe which per- 
tain merely to the prefent life. Noth- 
ing, furely, could be more rational, 
nothing more capable of a fatisfa6lory 
vindication. A revival of religion is 
the greatell bleffmg which can be be- 
llowed upon any people. It is a mark 
of ftupendous madnefs when immor- 
tal beings, ruined by fm, and haften- 
ing to the judgment, can remain, year 
after year, wholly indifferent and 
thoughtlefs. They are the fanatics 
whd^egle6l the great falvation ! 

Many, both old and young, in Mid- 
dleborough, at this time, were making 
the earneft inquiry, " What fliall I do 
to be faved .'' " Among the number 
thus tenderly and folemnly aife6ted 
was Deborah Sampfon, the fubject of 
our ftory, then nineteen years of age. 
At length flie entertained the hope 
that ftie had experienced renewing 
grace, and that her fms were forgiven. 
Ever fmce coming to live in Middle- 
borough, at the age of eight years, 
flie had attended public worfhip with 
the Firft Congregational Church in 
that town, whofe meeting-houfe was 
at the " Upper Green," fo called. 
This church, at the time indicated in 
the text, had no fettled pallor.* The 



Rev. Abraham Camp, who was then 
preaching there, is faid to have enter- 
tained a high opinion of Deborah's 
talents and chara6ler, and to have re- 
gretted her departure from the con- 
gregation ; for, as the revival extend- 
ed into other feftions of the town, it 
was greatly promoted by the labors 
of Rev. Afa Hunt,t a Baptift minifter 
in the south part of Middleborough, 
at a locahty known as " The Rock," 
on the borders of Rocheller. Debo- 
rah was induced to attend on his 
preaching, and not long after joined 
herfelf in covenant with his church. 
The Records of the Firll Baptill 
Church in Middleborough Ihow that 
Ihe was received by them as a mem- 
ber, Nov. 12, 1780. She continued 
in that relation lefs than two years. 
It appears that fhe renounced her 
covenant with the Church, and learned 
to fpeak lightly of experimental re- 
ligion. 



* The FIrft Church in Middleborough was or- 
ganized Dec. 26, 1694, although materials for a 



church had long exifted. Rev. Sam'l Fuller, their 
firft minifter (fon of the excellent Dr. Samuel 
Fuller of the Mayflower), had preached in the 
town from 1679, and probably from the incorpora- 
tion of the town in 1669. After the death of the 
Rev. Sylvanus Conant, in 1777, there was no fet- 
tled minifter there till 1781. Mr. Abraham Camp, 
a graduate of Yale College in 1773, was preaching 
to this church at the time mentioned in the text. 
The people were greatly interefted in his preach- 
ing, and gave him a unanimous call to be their 
paftor, in February, 1779, and again called him, by 
a vote of twenty-two to five, in November, 1780. 
He concluded not to fettle in Middleborough. 

t Mr. Hunt was fi-om Braintree, and was ordained 
at Middleborough, 0<5t. 30, 1771; d. Sept. 2, 1791. 



REVIEW. 103 

Hon in religion. Whether It originated from the unufual 
and influential exertions of the clergy, who took advan- 
tage of this unparalleled crifls to add to their number of 
converts in the Chriftlan religion ; or, whether it was a 
voluntary a6l of the mind, or a natural cachexy; — or 
whether it is a charafterifllc trait of the Divine Chara5ler 
— I have not time here to conjefture. 

She was In the midfl; of it, and was excited to obferve 
its operations. But fhe had the wife precaution to ftudy 
well its purport, rather than to fuffer the fugitive to take 
her by furprlfe. But let its tendency have been what it 
might, it anfwered a good purpofe for her. It ferved to 
rouze her attention ; and to bring about thefe important 
enquiries : — From whence came man ? What Is his bufi- 
nefs ? And for what is he defigned ? She confldered 
herfelf as having been too Inattentive to religion ; which, 
as flie had been taught, and naturally conceived, is the 
mofl; indifpenfable duty enjoined on man, both with re- 
gard to his well-being here, and to the eternal welfare of 
his immortal part. 

But from her befl conclufive arguments drawn from a 
conteft of this nature, flie faw no propriety in it. Rea- 
fon being perverted or obfl;ru6ied in its courfe, the whole 
fyfl:em of intellefts is thrown into a delirium. This being 
the cafe, as fhe conceived, in this outcry of religion ; its 
fubjedls were of courfe, not only difqualified for ufeful 
bufmefs, which was, certainly, wanted at that time, if ever. 



I04 THEFEMALE 

but rendered totally incapacitated for the adoration and 
worlliip of Deity, in a manner becoming his dignity, or 
the didates of found reafon. 

At this age, fhe had not, profeffionally, united herfelf 
to any religious denomination ; ^^ as was the pra6lice of 
many of her cotemporaries. She confidered herfelf in a 
flate of probation, and a free agent ; and confequently at 
liberty, to fele6l her own religion. In this, fhe was, in a 
meafure, miflaken. Had her mind been free from the 
manacles of cujiom, and unfwayed by education, fhe might 
have boafled of an advantage fuperior to all others, and 
might, peradventure, have entertained the world with a 
fet of opinions, different from all other fefts and nations. 
But thefe were her combatants. As fhe advanced on the 
flage of life to eftablifh a religion, her profpeft was that 
of the Chrijlian world: And her affent to it was at once 
urged by her mode of education. Indeed, this was the 
only religion of which flie had any knowledge, except 
that which fimple nature always teaches. 

But her refearches in Chriflianity did not occafion fo 
much furprife to its votaries as they did to herfelf On ex- 
amination, inftead of finding only one denomination, fhe 
muft have been entertained — more probably, alarmed, on 
finding almoft an infinite number of fefts which had 
fprung out of it, and in each feftary, a different opinion — 

24 So far is this from being true, the revival, and united herfelf to the 
that ihe profeffed to be a fubje^t of Baptilt Church, as already ftated. 



REVIEW. 105 

all right, infallibly right, in their own eflimation. A great 
diverfity of fcenery in the fame drama, or tragedy, upon 
the flage, perhaps, has nothing in it wonderful or crimi- 
nal. But a religion, which is believed to be of divine 
origin, even communicated direftly from God, to Man, 
confequently, intended for the equal good of all, but ftill 
fubjeft to controverfy — differently conftrued and differ- 
ently praffifed — ihe conceived, has every thing of the 
marvellous, if not of an inconfiftent nature. Thus, when 
fhe would attach herfelf to one, the fentiments of a fecond 
would prevail, and thofe of a thwd would itagnate her 
choice: and for a while fhe was tempted to reje6l the 
whole, till thorough examination and the aid of him, who 
cannot err, fhould determine the befl. And I am not 
certain, there are not many, who have made their profef- 
fion, who ought to difapprove her refolution. 

To have called in queflion the validity and authenticity 
of the Scriptures would only have been challenging, at 
leafl, one half America, and a quarter of the reft of the 
globe to immediate combat : For which fhe had neither 
abilities, nor inclination. She began to refleft, however, 
that, the being bound to any fet religion, by the force of 
man, would not only be an infraflion of the laws of Na- 
ture, but a ftriking and effedlual blow at the prime root of 
that liberty, for which our nation was then contending. 

I WOULD not leave the public to furmife, that fhe de- 
rived no advantage from Chriflianity. Though divines 
14 



io6 THEFEMALE 

utterly difallow, that the plan of the Gofpel can be at- 
tained by the dim light of nature, or by the boafted 
fchools of philofophy ; yet, we have already found in thefe 
Memoirs, that, as feeble as they are, they lead, without 
equivocation, to the knowledge and belief of Deity, who, 
every one acknowledges, is the firft and great objeft of 
our reverence and devotion. Chriflian morality, fhe ac- 
knowledges with more warmth, than I have known in 
many, who have had greater advantages of education. 
Setting afide the doftrines of total depravity, ele^ion, and 
a few others, which were always inadmiffible by her rea- 
fon, fhe is an adherent to its creed. By her diffidence, 
fhe is willing, however, that her ignorance fhould be fo 
far expofed to the public, as to declare, that fhe knows 
not whether it is more from the light of Go/pel revelation, 
or the force of education, that flie is led to the affent of 
the fundamental do6lrines of Chriflianity.^^ 

This view of her religious fentiments will be concluded 
by the following fummary of what flie now believes to be 
genuine religion : And under whatever denomination it 
may fall, it mufl always continue without a precedent. 

That religion, which has a tendency to give us the 
greatefl and moft dire6l knowledge of Deity, of his attri- 
butes and works, and of our duty to him, to ourfelves and 
to all the human race, is the truefl and befl ; and by which, 
only, we can have confciences void of offence, 

25 The author here dehvers his own rah Sampfon. He reminds us of the 
fentiments rather than thofe of Debo- fable of the viper biting the file. 



REVIEW. 107 

I TAKE the liberty to clofe this chapter with a few 
digreffional remarks. 

Sensible I am, that when we can be made fenfible that 
reHgion, in its truefl fenfe, ought to be made the ultimate 
end and objeft of our purfuit — that it is the greatefl 
requifite for our general felicity, both here and in futu- 
rity; — or, fhould it be found, that, as we difregard, or 
attend to it, our temporal intereft will be effefted, as it is 
by our legiflative government — I am inclined to believe, 
not a myftery, or hidden part in it will long remain unex- 
plored, but eflabliflied or reje6led, as it may be deemed 
genuine. Civil government and religion have, briefly, 
this difference : — Civil government ferves as a direftory 
neceffary for the accumulation and prefervation of tem- 
poral intereft and conveniencies for life : religion teaches 
us how to fet a proper eflimate on them, and on all other 
enjoyments in life. It expands and elevates the mind to 
a fenfe and knowledge of Deity, and to the dignity of 
human nature. It pervades the whole foul, and fills it 
with light and love. It is a fource, from which, only, can 
be derived permanent fatisfaftion, and teaches us the true 
end of our exiflence. For want of a knowledge or reali- 
zation of this, into how many grofs errors and abfurdities 
have mankind inadvertently fallen, or inattentively been 
led : When impofitions of this kind have been multiplied 
upon them, when they have been fl;igmatized by this 
name, or by that, in matters of fentiment ; it feems, they 



io8 THEFEMALE 

have refted comfortably eafy, without enquiring into their 
truth or juftice, or paffed them off with flighty indifference. 
But touch our interejl — that bright, momentary gem ! the 
cheek is immediately flufhed, and the whole heart and 
head are upon the rack — fet to invention for redrefs. So 
contra6led and interwoven with lucrative, fantaflical gain 
are the views and purfuits of men. 



CHAP. V. 

Remarkable anxiety of Mifs Sampson's mind relative to 
the War, and to gain a knowledge of her country. — For 
once.JJte is tempted to fwerve from the fp here of her f ex, 
upon the mere principle of gratifying curiofity and of 
becoming more effe^ually inflrumental in the promotion 
of good. — There are but two methods for the accomplifJt- 
ment of this, in which her inclinations lead her to con- 
cur. — The firfl is that of travelling in the charafler of a 
gentleman. — The fecond, that of taking an effeH^ive part 
in the cause of her country, by joining the Army in 
the character of a voluntary foldier. — The latter, after 
many fevere firuggles between prudence, delicacy and vir- 
tue, fhe refolves to execute. 

IT is impoffible to conje6ture what would have been 
Mifs Sampson's turn of mind, had llie obtained the 
mofl refined education. But it requires no great force 



REVIEW. 109 

of logic to difcover her leading propenfities in her prefent 
fituation. She was formed for enterprife: and had for- 
tune been propitious, flie might have wanted limitations. 

Among all her avocations and intervening occurrences 
in her juvenility, her thirft for knowledge and the prevail- 
ing American conteft, appear, by her diurnals, to have 
held the moft diftinguifhed and important fway in her 
mind : — Diftinguifhed, becaufe they were different from 
the generality of her fex; — important, becaufe on that 
depended the future welfare and felicity of our country. 
Her refolutions on thefe accounts, and the execution of 
them will now employ our attention. 

From the maturity of her years, obfervation and expe- 
rience, file could determine, with more precifion, on the 
nature of the war and on the confequence of its termina- 
tion. This may be faid to be her logic : — If it fliould 
terminate in our fubjeftion again to England, the aboli- 
tion of our Independence mufl follow ; by which, we not 
only mean to be free, but to gain us the poffefiion of Lib- 
erty in its trueft fenfe and greatefl magnitude : and thus 
fecure to ourfelves that illuftrious name and rank, that 
adorn the nations of the earth. 

This, and her propenfities for an acquaintance with 
the geography of her country, were, alternately, fevere in 
her mind. Her tafte for geography muft have been chiefly 
fpontaneous ; as the fl;udy of it in books was unfafliiona- 
ble among the female yeomanry. — I am happy to remark 



no THE FEMALE 

here, that this ufeful and delightfome fcience is now be- 
come a polite accompHihment for ladies. 

It was now a crifis with her not often to be experi- 
enced : and though it was painful to bear, it was, doubt- 
lefs, conducive to improvement. Invention being upon 
the rack, every wheel in the machine is put in motion, 
and fome event muft follow. It produced many perti- 
nent thoughts on the education of her fex. Very juftly 
did file confider the female fphere of aftion, in many re- 
fpefts, too contrafted ; in others, wanting limits. In 
general, fhe deemed their opportunities, rather than abili- 
ties, inadequate for thofe departments in fcience and the 
bellef-lettres, in which they are fo peculiarly calculated to 
fliine. — From this, let me infer — that, although cujlom 
conflitutes the general Jlandard of female education ; yet. 
the beft method that occurs to my mind to be ufed in 
this important bufmefs, is that di6lated by reafon and 
convenience. 

But the public mufl here be furprifed in the contem- 
plation of the machinations and achievements oi female 
heroifm and virtue : which if not the mofl unparalleled, 
are the moft fmgular, that have ever fprung out of Co- 
lumbia's foil. And it is but reafonable, that we exercife 
all that candor and charity, that the nature of the circum- 
flances will admit. By ideally putting ourfelves in fimilar 
circumftances, the reafonablenefs will be fully evinced. 
Though independent and free, ctifiom in many refpedls, 



REVIEW. Ill 

rules us with defpotic fway : And the perfon who greatly 
deviates from it, expofes himfelf to numberlefs dangers. 
An indelible ffigma may doom him to infamy; though 
perhaps, his original defign was to effeft fome ufeful and 
important event. But on the other hand, liberty gives us 
fuch afcendancy over old habit, that unlefs it bind us to 
fome apparent and permanent good, its iron bands are 
fubje6l to diffolution. We have, in fome meafure feen 
Mifs Sampson's motives for achievement ; the reft will be 
illuftrated in the fequel. 

Having come of age, her former refolution"^ remained 
to be executed.'^ For this purpofe, flie planned many 
fchemes and fabricated many caftles ; but, on examina- 
tion, found them chimerical, or of precarious foundation. 
Every recent information of the geography of the conti- 
nent, ferved only to ftimulate propenfities, which flie had 
no defire to flifie. But the news of the war ferved but to 
engrofs her mind with anxieties and emotions flie had 
long labored to fupprefs. And it mufl here be mentioned 
to her honor, that fhe ufed arguments for, and againjl, 
herfelf in every important proportion drawn for enter- 
prife. Her chief problems for folution may have been 
thefe: — Mufl I forever counteraft inclination and ftay 
within the compafs of the fmoke of my own chimney ? 

* See chap. iv. 

26 Her refolution to travel, and to induced her to enlift in the Conti- 
obtain a knowledge of her country, nental army. 



112 THE FEMALE 

Never tread on different foils ; nor form an acquaintance 
with a greater circle of the human race ? Stifle that 
fplrit of heroic patriotifm, which no one knows but him 
who foreknows all events, but may terminate in the 
greatefl good to myfelf, and, in fome degree, promote the 
CAUSE of my country ? Yield the palm of cujiom to the 
force of that philanthropy, which fliould warm the bofoms 
of both fexes and all ages ? — In fa6l, fliall I fwerve from 
my fex's fphere for the fake of acquiring a little ufeful 
acqulfitlon ; or, iliall I fubmit (without reluctance, I can- 
not) to a prifon, where I muff drag out the remainder of 
my exiflence In ignorance : where the thoughts of my too 
cloiftered fituation muft forever harrafs my bofom with 
liftlefs purfuits, taflelefs enjoyments, and refponfive dif- 
content ? 

Contrasting this argumentation with the fuperlor ad- 
vantages of many of the human race for acquiring knowl- 
edge, fhe was ready, for a moment, to find fault with her 
formation : but happily, it was but momentary. As If 
fhe had been inftantly cured of a frenzy, fhe could fcarcely 
be reconciled with herfelf for fuch prefumption. It being 
not only an indignity to her own fex, but the bafefl in- 
gratitude to her Maker, and derogatory to his laws. 
Her humble folicitations were, that fhe never might be 
fo loft to all fenfe of virtue and decorum, as to a61 a part 
unworthy her dein^; thereby not only bring Infamy on 
herfelf, but leave a blemifh and ftlgma on the female 
world. - 



REVIEW. 



113 



For this purpofe, fhe refolved to think no more of pro- 
je6llng adventures, of leaving the tranquillity of her do-\ 
meflic retirement — her endearing circle of relations and 
friends, to vifit diftant parts ; as the good fhe anticipated 
in the refult was uncertain, and might, in a fatal manner, 
prove fallacious. Her flights of imagination had fur- 
nifhed a clue the moft requifite for the maxim, which 
every one more or lefs needs — ''When fancy rides, let j 
reafon hold the reinsT She likewife refolved to fufpend • 
all further enquiries and anxiety about the war. Vain 
attempts ! The prohibitions proved a fource of mortifica- 
tion and difcontent. And it feems, a prevention of thefe 
enquiries would have been as much impoffible as it would 
to have brought the war to a clofe without negotiation, 
or by inaftion itfelf. It feems, flie could not hear of its 
fuccefs without feeling the victory. She had heard of 
many beautiful cities, rich foils, healthy climates and dif- 
ferent cufloms with the inhabitants : And the thought of 
being prohibited from augmenting her acquaintance with 
them, was but anticipating her diffolution too foon.^^ 



27 While Deborah, as in the text, merit. She had good natural capaci- 

is pondering her future courfe, let us ty ; was of a ftudious, contemplative 

confider what flie was at this time. turn of mind ; an ardent lover of na- 

She was now a few months over ture ; a careful obferver of paffmg 

twenty years of age ; had been de- events. She was fond of adventure, 

prived of the advantages refulting and had a great deal of energy. Her 

from a proper training under the pa- temper was bold, enterprifmg, inde- 

rental roof, and, in great meafure, of pendent, fearlefs ; and fhe was dif- 

opportunities for intelleflual improve- pofed to have her own way, regard- 

15 



114 



THE FEMALE 



In this dilemma fhe continued feveral months without 
any fixed refolution. At length, her propenfities for 
viewing diflant places, &c. gained fuch a perfe6l afcen- 
dancy over cooler reafon, that her propenfities could 
brook no controul. She determined to burfi: the bands, 
which, it mufi: be confefied, have too often held her fex 
in awe, and in fome mode and meafure, fi;retch beyond 
the boundaries of her own neighborhood ; by which 
means fhe might be convinced whether what ftie had 
read or heard be true — " That one half of the world does 
not know how the other half lives!' But here frefii fcenes 
of difficulties awaited her ; though many had been before 



lefs of confequences. The fphere in 
which fhe had hitherto moved fhe 
found too quiet and too narrow for 
her afpiring temperament : flie longed 
for fomething higher and better, fhe 
knew not what. Under proper cul- 
ture and difcipline, fhe might have 
become an ornament to her fex and a 
blefTmg to the world. But fhe had 
none to guide, to train, to admonifh 
her, fcarcely any to fympathize with 
her. Confequently, her efforts were 
mifdire6led, her energies mifem- 
ployed. To a confiderable extent, fhe 
was a day-dreamer, and a builder of 
caflles in the air. She had a flrong 
defire to fee the world, to vifit diflant 
regions, to behold fociety in new 
lights and under unufual afpefts. She 
determined that fhe would, at all 
events, quit the ignoble employments 
to which fhe had been accuftomed in 



a farmer's family in Middleborough, 
— of feeding pigs and poultry, of ply- 
ing the fpinning-wheel and the loom. 
She refolved, therefore, to put on 
male attire, and travel ; and to this 
end fpun and wove, with her own 
hands, cloth, which (fhe fays) fhe em- 
ployed a tailor to make up as a fuit 
for a gentleman, pretending that it 
was for a young man, a relative of 
hers, who was about leaving home 
for the army. She found thefe gar- 
ments became her fo well, that even 
her mother, whom fhe vifited at 
Plympton in this coftume, did not 
know her. This is the flatement 
which is made in the MS. memoir, 
where it is alfo flated that fhe pro- 
cured and put on thefe garments fev- 
eral times, to try them, in the autumn 
of 1780. It was certainly a year later 
when this was done. 



REVIEW. 115 

anticipated. Prudence, as ufual, appeared in her plain, 
but neat, attire, and called her refolution in queftion. 
Delicacy trimmed her diflocated hair ; and virtue brought 
her amaranthine wreathe. The thought of travelling 
without a companion or protedlor, was deemed by pru- 
dence, a ftep of prefumption. Not to have travelled at 
all, might have deprived her of much good, with increaf- 
ing anxiety : And there was an avenue to it both ways. 
But her greatefl obftacle was the want of that current 
fpecie, which is always fure to gain the efleem of all peo- 
ple* Without it, fhe mufl have been liable to have in- 
curred the appellation of an idler, a bonaroba, or a vaga- 
bond : And fo have failed in her defign ; which was the 
acquifition of knowledge without the lofs of reputation. 
Whilst flie was deliberating on thefe matters, fhe 
/ privately dreffed herfelf in a handfome fuit of man's ap- 
parel and repaired to a prognoflicator.^^ This, flie de- 
clares, was not to flimulate, but to divert her inclinations 
from objefts, which not only feemed prefumptuous, but 
imprafticable. She informed him, fhe had not come with 
an intention to put entire confidence in his delufory fug- 
gellions ; but it was partly out of principle, but moflly out 
of curiofity. He confidered her as a blithe and honeft 
young gentleman. She heard his preamble. And it was 
either by art or accident, that he told her, pretty juflly, 

28 Or fortune-teller. Her interview much to llengthen and confirm her 
with him undoubtedly contributed refolution. 



ii6 THE FEMALE 

her feelings — that fhe had propenfities for uncommon 
enterprizes, and preffed to know why flie had held them 
in fufpenfion fo long. — Having predicated, that the fuc- 
cefs of her adventures, if undertaken, would more than 
compenfate a few difficulties, flie left him with a mind 
more difcompofed, than when fhe found him. But before 
fhe reached home, flie found her refolution ftrengthened. 
She refolved foon to commence her ramble, and in the 
fame clandefline plight, in which fhe had been to the 
necromancer. She thought of bending her firft courfe to 
Philadelphia, the metropolis of America. 

In March, 1781, the feafon being too rough to com- 
mence her excurfion, flie propofed to equip herfelf at lei- 
fure : and then appoint the time for her departure. A 
handfome piece of cloth was to be put to a use, of which 
fhe little thought, during the time flie was employed in 
manufacturing it. — Ye fprightly Fair, what is there in 
your domeflie department, that neceffity, ingenuity and 
refolution cannot accomplifh ? — She made her a genteel 
coat, waiftcoat and breeches without any other affiftance, 
than the uncouth patterns belonging to her former maf- 
ter's family. The other articles, hat, fhoes, &c. were pur- 
chafed under invented pretexts.^^ 

29 During her abode in the family purpofes. The burning of Charles- 

of Mr. Thomas, he had allowed her town and the fiege of Bolton had oc- 

the income arifmg from a number of cafioned fevere fufFering to the inhab- 

fowls and fheep, with the underftand- itants of thofe places ; and Deborah 

ing that it fliould be applied to ufeful had contributed out of her fcanty 



REVIEW. 



117 



Before flie had accomplifhed her apparatus, her mind 
being intent, as the reader mufl imagine, on the ufe to 
which they were foon to be appropriated ; an idea, no 
lefs fingular and furprifmg, than true and important, de- 
termined her to rehnquifli her plan of travelling for that 
of joining the American Army in the charafter of a vol- 
untary foldier.3° This propofal concurred with her incli- 
nations on many accounts, Whilfl flie fliould have equal 
opportunities for furveying and contemplating the world, 
fhe fliould be accumulating fome lucrative profit ; and in 
the end, perhaps, be inflrumental in the cause of liberty, 
which had for nearly fix years, enveloped the minds of 
her countrymen. 



flock for their relief. This fmall fund 
alfo enabled her to purchafe the ma- 
terials for a fuit of mafculine apparel. 
During feveral weeks of the winter, 
(he was employed in fpinning and 
weaving a piece of handfome woollen 
cloth. As fpring advanced, and the 
weather became more comfortable, 
flie retired, as we are informed, to a 
beautiful recefs in the grove above 
the Borden Hills, and there, with the 
aid of patterns, cut and made for her- 
felf a coat, vefl, and breeches. Pan- 
taloons reaching to the ankles were 
not then worn. — \^Rev. S. Pratt.l 

30 Her original plan of travelling as 
a gentleman was foon laid afide, from 
the lack of that very necelTary article, 
which, as the royal preacher well fays, 
"anfwereth all things." There re- 



mained no other method for gratify- 
ing the roving propenfities which had 
now acquired full pofTeffion of her 
mind, but this, — to enlift as a foldier 
in the Continental army. There is 
no need of denying that fhe felt alfo 
the impulfe of earneft and genuine 
patriotifm ; but this feems not to have 
been the principal motive. From the 
beginning of the Revolutionary ftrug- 
gle, fhe had, though a young girl, fym- 
pathized intenfely with the caufe of 
liberty, and had, with deep emotion, 
liftened, from a hill near her refi- 
dence, to the boom of cannon on the 
day of Bunker Hill. 

It feems very clear that an enlifl- 
ment as a foldier was not the original 
plan, nor patriotism the original im- 
pulfe. 



ii8 THE FEMALE 

Here I might bring forward her former monitors, and 
reprefent the afifefting dialogues, which no virtuous mind 
willies to difpute, fhe held with them on this trying occa- 
fion. But I leave this for the poet, novelift, or fome 
fnore able pen. Suffice it to fay, the following motto is 
the chief refult of her debates : — " There may be an heroic 
INNOCENCE as Well as an heroic courage." Cujiom, not 
virtue, muft lofe its name by tranfition ; unlefs cujlom be 
made the criterion of virtue. She debated, with all the 
force of eloquence, that a fenfe of duty to a parent or 
miflrefs could produce, whether to communicate her in- 
tentions to them, or to make a confident of any one in fo 
important an undertaking. She refolved in the negative, 
for this reafon : — If her purfuits fhould terminate in an 
event, that fhould caufe her to lament her engagement, 
file fhould not refle6l upon herfelf for having gone coun<^ 
ter to their advice and injunftions; though fhe might, 
for not afking and adhering to them. In either cafe, fhe 
meant to make an expiation. 

Females ! you have refolutions, and you execute them. 
And you have, in a degree, the trial of the virtues and 
graces, that adorn your fex. Then, by ideal fimilitude, 
put yourfelves in the fituation of our Heroine, (for thus 
fhe muft be diflinguifhed in future) and then grant her 
fuch favors as you might wifh from her. I am your 
friend, and would do honor to that, which dignifies your 
charafter, and renders you the amiable companions of 



REVIEW. 119 

man. Heaven, who has aided Columbia s Caufe, recog- 
nize my fmcerity ! And although it has been purchafed, 
moflly, at the dear expenfe of hery^?;^^'; you have not re- 
mained uninterefled nor without the pang of the diflreffed 
lover. — I cannot defire you to adopt the example of our 
Heroine, fhould the like occafion again offer; yet, we 
mufl do her juftice. Whether that liberty, which has 
now cemented us in fo happy an union, was purchafed 
through dire6l, or indire6l means ; we certainly owe the 
event to heaven. And enterprife in it can better be dif- 
penfed, than in many other eminent cafes. — Let your 
imagination, therefore, travel with me through the toils 
and dangers fhe has paffed. And if you exercife that 
propriety and fweetnefs of temper, which I have known 
in many of you, in the contemplation of other lefs inter- 
efting fcenes and objeds, I am fare, I fhall never be tired 
with your company. 



^ >, X,.;>K.^l^^lc^<^iJ>lw^l^>^*^l^.^l^^l^^^l^^^v^l^^l^^^ 



CHAP. VI. 

The time prefixed for her perfonating the soldier. — Re- 
fie^ions on her bidding adieu to her relations, friends, 
&c, — Takes a Weftern, circuitous rout for Bofion, — Is 
hired for a clafs of Uxbridge, as a foldier, for three 
years, or during the War, — Her mode of joining the 
Army at Weft-Point, — Is put into the Fourth Mafia- 
chufetts' Regiment. 

IN April, 1 78 1, having obtained what requifites fhe 
could for her new, but hazardous, expedition, warm 
weather being generally fettled — fhe allowed herfelf but 
a few days to compromife matters with herfelf, and to 
take a private leave of her agreeable circle, before her 
departure.^' The thoughts of being put into a kind of 
transformation were not fo alarming, as the dread fatality, 
which fhe knew not but it might produce. Whilfl mofl 
females muft recoil at the commencement of an under- 
taking of this nature, few can have refolution to attempt 
a fecond trial. And had I a tragi-comic pen, it might 
find ample fcope in the fcenes now before me. 

Several circumflances concurred, in this interim, 
which could not have failed to excite peculiar emotions. 

31 It has been fatisfadlorily and tion, by official documents, that " her 
concluiively fhown in the Introduc- departure " was in May, 1782. 



REVIEW. 



121 



She knew her mother had long doated on her future 
fehcity, with a young gentleman of fortune, and agreeable 
deportment ; and with whom fhe had contra6led an inti- 
mate and endearing acquaintance. He had given her 
many cordial proofs of the fmcerity of his attachment 
and lafling affe6tions. And had' her mind been difen- 
cumbered with a higher objed; in view, flie might, doubt- 
lefs, have united her affe6iions in the happieft alliance 
for life.^^ Already did (he confider a parent not only dif- 
appointed in her warmefl wiflies, but diflra6led with an- 
guifli by the elopement, and for aught fne knew, the fatal 
and untimely cataftrophe of a daughter. She felt for 
thofe who had taken the charge of her youth ; ^^ whofe 
affeftions had not been alienated by her difobedience. 



32 That this talk about the " young 
gentleman of fortune" is mere "moon- 
fhine," will be apparent from a quota- 
tion from the MS. memoir, to which I 
have repeatedly referred. She fays, — 

" I did not, however, in this vernal 
feafon of raptures and defpairs, efcape 
the addreffes of a young man, of 
whom my mother, I believe, was paf- 
lionately fond, and feemed ftruck with 
wonder that I was not. She confid- 
ered him regenerated. I had not her 
eyes to fee fuch perfe6lion in this 
lump of a man, or that he poffeffed 
qualities that would regenerate 7/2^. 
I had no averfion to him at firft, and 
certainly no love, if I have ever un- 
derftood that noble paffion. At any 
rate, this marry, or not to marry, was 
16 



decided thus : On a certain parade- 
day he came to me, with all the /an^^ 
froid of a Frenchman, and the filli- 
nefs of a baboon, intoxicated, not 
with love^ but with nun. From that 
moment I fet him down a fool, or in 
a fair way to be one." 

This will ferve to fhow that " The 
Female Review" cannot, in matters 
of detail, be fafely trulled. 

It is quite probable that a wifh to 
efcape the addreffes of this young 
man — though he is doubtlefs groffly 
mifreprefented in the extract juft 
made — was one of the motives which 
operated in inducing her to leave home 
fecretly, and join the army. 

33 The family of Deacon Thomas, 
next to her mother, her beft friends. 



122 THE FEMALE 

For him, who loved her, flie felt with emotions, that had 
not before alarmed Iier. Indeed, fuch groups of ideas, 
that hurried upon her mind, muft have been too much 
for a breaft naturally tender. She retired to indulge the 
effefts of nature : And in this feclufion, refolved, fhould 
her purfuit fucceed, to write to her mother in a manner, 
that might pacify her mind without difclofmg the deli- 
cate flratagem. 

But neither the rigor of a parent to induce her mar- 
riage with one, whom fhe did not diflike, nor her own 
abhorrence of the idea of being confidered a female can- 
didate for conjugal union, is the caufe of her turning vol- 
unteer in the American War; as may hereafter, partly, 
be conjectured by an anonymous writer. This muft be 
the greatell o}>ftacle to the magic charm of the novelifl. 
She did not flight love ; nor was fhe a diftrafted inam- 
orato. She confidered it a divine gift : nor was flie 
deceived. For, ftrike love out of the foul, life becomes 
infipid and the whole body falls into lethargy. Love 
being, always, attended by hope, wafts us agreeably 
through life. — She was a lover ; but different from thofe, 
whofe love is only a fliort epilepfy, or for the gratification 
of fantaftical and criminal pleafure. This, I truft, will be 
demonftrated by a fa6l, to which, but few can appeal. 
Her love extended to all. And I know not, but flie con- 
tinues to have this confoling refle6lion, that no one can 
tax her for having coveted the prohibited enjoyment of 



REVIEW. 123 

any individual. This is that love, whofe original fource 
and motive induced Columbia's fons to venture their pro- 
perty, endearments — their lives ! to gain themfelves the 
poffeffion of that heaven-born companion, called liberty: 
and which, when applied to conjugal union, is the fame 
thing, only differently combined with the other paffions. 
And whatever effe6l it may then have had on her, flie 
has fmce been heard to fay, without referve — That flie 
deemed it more honorable for one to be fuffocated with 
the fmoke of cannon in the Catife, in which fhe was then 
embarked, than to wafle a ufeful intended exigence in 
defpair, becaufe Heaven had juftly denied the favorite of 
a whimfical and capricious fancy. The perfeverence for 
the objeft, di6tated by love, in both cafes, corroborates, 
beyond doubt, its efficacy and utility. 

Just before her departure, fhe received a polite invita- 
tion to join a circle of her acquaintance for rural feilivity. 
She was cheerful ; and the refl: of the company more fo. 
Among many lively topics, it was remarked that Mr. 

, brother to a lady not prefent, had been killed in 

the battle at Long-Ifland, in New-York. It was bruflied 
into oblivion, by concluding — his fweetheart was again 
courted. It drew involuntary tears from our intended 
heroine, which were noticed. In the evening, fhe returned 
home w4th emotions, that might affeft a lover. 

Next day, the weather was exceedingly pleafant ; and 
nature fmiled with the feafon. Mifs Sampson performed 



124 



THE FE MALE 



her bufinefs with much affefted gaiety- and fp rightly con- 
verfation : But the night was to be big with the import- 
ant event.^^ 



34 I am forry to fpoil a good ftory ; 
but there is another account given of 
her alTumption of male attire, far lefs 
romantic than that given in the text, 
and far more truftworthy. It was 
given to my friend. Rev. Stillman 
Pratt, by a perfon in Middleborough 
who remembered Deborah Sampfon. 
It is alfo for fubftance confirmed by 
that diflinguifhed antiquary, Mr. Sam- 
uel G. Drake of Bofton, whose firft 
wife was a near relative of Capt. 
Leonard. The account is as fol- 
lows : — 

During the war of the Revolution, 
Capt. Benjamin Leonard, a diftant 
connexion of Hon. Daniel Leonard of 
Taunton, the author of the famous let- 
ters figned " MalTachufettenfis," refid- 
ed in Middleborough, eaftwardly from 
what are now known as the Upper 
Namafket Works. A negro woman 
of the name of Jennie, daughter of 
a flave of Judge Oliver, was an in- 
mate of his family. Here Deborah 
Sampfon was ftaying for a time. By 
the aid of this negro woman, Debo- 
rah drelTed herfelf in a fuit of clothes 
belonging to a young man named 
Samuel Leonard, a fon of Capt. Ben- 
jamin Leonard. Thus clad, fhe re- 
paired to a recruiting - office, kept 
at the houfe of Mr. Ifrael Wood. 
There fhe enlifted as a foldier under 
the affumed name of Timothy Thayer, 
and received the bounty. Having 



now plenty of money, flie went, thus 
attired, to a tavern near the meeting- 
houfe, two miles eaft of Middleborough 
Four Corners ; called for fpirituous 
liquors ; got excited ; and behaved 
herfelf in a noify and indecent man- 
ner. During the night, fhe returned 
home ; crept to bed with the negro ; 
and, when morning came, refumed 
her female attire, and returned to her 
female employments, as if nothing 
had happened. 

She enlifted at this time, it is fup- 
pofed, partly to have a little frolic, 
and to fee how it would feeni to put on 
a man's clothing, but chiefly for the 
purpose of procuring a more ample 
fupply of fpending money. Some of 
the money flie now received was 
fpent for female wearing apparel. A 
few nights after this adventure, Ihe 
appeared at a flnging-fchool, held at a 
houfe near the prefent refidence of 
Mr. Earle Sproat, dreffed out in a 
fomewhat gaudy ftyle. On this occa- 
fion, flie made a prefent of a pair of 
long gloves to a young lady of her 
acquaintance, to whom flie felt indebt- 
ed for fpecial kindnefs in a time of 
ficknefs. 

She had doubtlefs long meditated 
the defign of becoming a foldier, but 
was not yet quite prepared to join the 
army. It was now either in the win- 
ter feafon, or the early fpring of 1782 ; 
and it feemed beft to wait a while. 



REVIEW. 



125 



Having put in readlnefs the materials flie had judged 
requifite, flie retired, at her ufual hour, to bed, intending 
to rife at twelve. She was, doubtlefs, pundlual. But 



When the time came for the fol- 
diers newly enlifted in Middlebor- 
ough to join their regiment, Timothy 
Thayer, to the furprife of the recruit- 
ing-officer, could not be found. His 
identity with Deborah Sampfon was 
difcovered in this manner : When the 
fuppofed Timothy was putting his 
name to the articles of enliflment, an 
old lady, who fat near the fire card- 
ing wool, remarked that he held the 
pen juft as Deb. Sampfon did. Deb- 
orah, having by means of a felon, or 
whitlow, lofb the proper ufe of her 
fore-finger, was obliged to hold a pen 
awkwardly when flie wrote. This 
was well known in the neighborhood 
where fhe had kept fchool, and where, 
of courfe, fhe had often been feen to 
ufe a pen. This circumftance led to 
a ftrong fufpicion that fhe and Tim- 
othy Thayer were the fame perfon. 
Inquiry being made, black Jennie dif- 
clofed the part ftie had a6ted in dreff- 
ing Deborah in men's clothes. Deb- 
orah, thus expofed, was obliged to 
refund that portion of the bounty- 
money fhe had not fpent, and to keep 
herfelf out of fight for a time, lefi; 
punifhment fliould overtake her. 
Tradition affirms that Samuel Leon- 
ard was fo fliocked at the idea of his 
clothes having been ufed by a woman, 
that he never wore them afterwards. 

There is no reafon, however, to 
doubt that fiie provided herfelf with 



a fuit of mafculine apparel, by the la- 
bor of her own hands, in the manner 
already Hated. If her fcheme was to 
be put in execution, flie mult, of courfe, 
have a fuit of her own. The clothes 
of Samuel Leonard were put on mere- 
ly for the occafion, and flie had no in- 
tention of keeping them. The frolic 
in which they were ufed occurred fome 
months before her fecond enliflment. 
The afliirance given by the fortune- 
teller whom flie vifited, as ftated on 
page 115, that flie would fucceed in 
the plan flie was meditating, feems to 
have contributed to confirm her ref- 
olution to join the American army. 
Her repeated experiments in male at- 
tire had been fuccefsfull : flie had 
paffed for a man without fufpicion ; 
and, as flie fays in the MS. memoir, 
flie found men's clothes more conve- 
nient than thofe worn by her own fex. 
It was not without confiderable liefi- 
tation and mifgiving that the final 
refolution was taken. The family of 
Deacon Thomas had been kind to 
her ; flie had not alienated their af- 
fe6lions even by her wayward con- 
duct ; and to leave them utterly coft 
her a fevere ftruggle. What trou- 
bled her moft; of all was the thought 
that her mother, who ftill lived in 
Plympton, would be difl:refled at her 
difappearance. At laft, however, flie 
came to the fixed determination to join 
the army, and abide the confequences. 



126 THE FEMALE 

there was none, but the Invisible, who could take cogni- 
fance of the effufions of paffion on affuming her new 
garb ; but efpecially, on refle6ling upon the itfe, for which 
it was affigned — on leaving her connexions, and even 
the vicinity, where the flower of her life had expanded, 
and was then in its bloom. She took her courfe towards 
Taunton, in hopes of meeting with fome ftranger, who 
was going direftly to Head-Quarters, then at the South- 
ward.3^ — Having walked all night, flie was juft entering 
the Green in Taunton, when the bright luminary of day, 
which had fo often gleamed upon her in the rufl;icity of 
a fliepherdefs, then found her, not, indeed, impreffed only 
with the Ample care of a brood of chickens, or a bleating 
lamb — but with a no lefs important cause, than that, in 
which the future felicity of America was then fufpended. 
The reflection ftartled her : but female temerities were 
not to be palliated. 

At this inftant, fhe unwelcomely met Mr. William 
Bennett, her near neighbor. Surely, an apoplexy could 
not have given her a more fudden fhock.^^ Though flie 
was not pofitive he had difcovered her mafquerade ; yet, 
fhe knew if he had, flie fliould be purfued when he 
reached home. — After fome refrefhment, and fupplying 



35 Taunton Green, which is the 36 Her eye met his ; her heart pal- 
principal village in Taunton, is eight pitated : fhe feared that fhe was 
or ten miles from Middleborough, known ; but fhe palled by him with- 
on the weft. 1 out difcovery. 



REVIEW. 127 

her pockets with a few bifcuit, flie haflened through the 
town ; but determined not to bend her courfe direftly for 
the Army, till flie fliould know what had been done about 
her clandeftine elopement. Fatigued with walking, flie 
took an obfcure path, that led half a mile into a thicket 
of wood ; where the boughs of a large pine ferved for 
her canopy during her repofe till evening. Surprifed 
when fhe awoke on finding it dark, with difficulty, flie re- 
gained the road ; and by the next peep of dawn, found 
herfelf in the environs of her former neighborhood.^^ 

Dejected at the fight of the place where flie had en- 
joyed fo much rural felicity, flie half refolved to relin- 
quifli all thoughts of further enterprize, and to palliate 
what had paffed, as a foible, from which females are not 
always exempt. The debate was not long. As ufual, 
flie muft perfevere, and make the beft of what might 
prove a bad choice. The groves were her fan6luary for , 
meditation that day and the fucceeding night. After the 
birds had fung their evening carols, flie lay down with 
intentions to fleep : but neceffity, our old alarming friend, 
roufed her attention. Impelled by hunger, during the 
tranquillity of the village, flie repaired to a houfe fhe had 
much frequented, with intentions to appeafe the cravings 

37 Her heart now began to fail her. to learn if any thing of the kind were 

Fearing that Mr. Bennett had pene- in progrefs. Finding no evidence of 

trated her difguife, and that her purfuit, llie refolved to perfevere in 

friends would ftart in hot purfuit, (he her romantic undertaking, but ftarted 

retraced her fteps to Middleborough in another diredlion. 



128 THE FEMALE 

of nature. Going to a pantry, where victuals was wont 
to be depofited, and meeting with no better fuccefs than 
a cruft of bread, flie again retired to her folitary afylum. 
— The caroling of the feathered tribe having again noti- 
fied her of day, flie refumed her ramble, and foon loft 
fight of thofe 

Adjacent villas, long to her endear'd, 

By the rough piles our anceftors have rear'd. 

She reached Rochefter that day, and the next, Bedford, 
a feaport town in Maffachufetts ; which had been much 
diftreffed by the Britifh in 1778 — 79. She here met 
with an American, Commander of a Cruifer ; who, after 
much importunity and proffered emolument, gained her 
confent to go his waiter to fea. But flie was informed, 
that, although he ufed much plaufibility on the fliore, it 
was changed to aufterity at fea.^^ She, therefore, requefted 
him to keep her month's advance, and leave to go into 
town on bufmefs ; and, that night, lodged in Rochefter, 
and was careful not to fee him afterwards."^ 

^ It has been reported, that fhe enlifted, as a Continental Soldier, for 
a clafs in Middleborough — that Ihe received a part of the ftipulated 
bounty — that flie was immediately difcovered, and refunded the bounty. 
I have no account of this from her ; nor is the report in the lead au- 
thenticated. It probably has fmce taken its rife from this circumflance.39 

38 Rochefter joins Middleborough where fhe enlifted on board of a pri- 
on the fouth. At a tavern in that vateer, but abandoned the defign on 
place, where flie fpent the next night, being informed of the captain's bad 
fhe faw fome of her town's-people, treatment of his men. 
without being known by them. The 39 For proof of the correftnefs of 
next day fhe reached New Bedford, this " report," fee note 34. 



REVIEW. 129 

Hearing nothing concerning her elopement, flie con 
eluded to take a circuitous ramble through fome of the 
Weftern towns, and vifit Bofton, the capital of Maffa- 
chufetts, before fhe joined the army. This was partly to 
gratify curiofity, and partly to familiarife herfelf to the 
different manners of mankind — a neceffary qualification 
for a foldier, and perhaps, not detrimental to any, whofe 
minds are properly fortified, and whofe eftabliflied maxim 
is — To do good. 

She left Rochefler on Friday. The next night and 
the fucceeding, fhe tarried at Mr. Mann's tavern in 
Wrentham. From thence, fhe vifited fome of the Wef- 
tern towns in the State.^° Finding herfelf among fi:ran- 
gers, her fear of being difcovered fubfided ; and flie found 
herfelf in an element, from which, fhe had long, involun- 
tarily, been fequeflered. She, doubtlefs, had awkward 
geflures on her firfl; affuming the garb of the man ; and 
without doubt, more awkward feelings. Thofe, who are 
unacquainted with mafquerade, muft make a difference be- 
tween that, which is only to heighten beauty for fantafti- 
cal amufement and pleafure — and that of fex, which is to 
continue, perhaps, for life, to accomplifli fome important 

40 This is not true. From Wren- home before fhe enlifted. In Belling- 

tham, where fhe fpent two days, fhe ham fhe met with a recruiting-officer ; 

went to Boflon, travelling, as before, and, being at this time almoft deftitute 

all the way on foot. She then paiTed of money, fhe enlifted as a foldier, 

through Roxbury, Dedham, and Med- under the afTumed name of Robert 

field, to Bellingham ; wifhing to pro- Shurtliffe. This was the name of 

ceed a confiderable diftance from her elder brother. — \MS. Me7noir.'\ 



I30 



THE FEMALE 



event. She a6led her part : and having a natural tafle 
for refinement, ilie was every where received as a blithe, 
handfome and agreeable young gentleman. 

It may be conje6lured, whether or not, flie meant to 
fee the army before fhe enlifted. By what follows, it ap- 
pears flie did not. She doubtlefs chofe to engage for 
Maffachufetts ; not becaufe flie could render any more 
fervice, but becaufe it is her native State, and which had 
been the opening of the firft fcene of the horrid drama, 
and had fufifered moft by its adors. 

In Bellingham flie met with a fpeculator ; with whom, 
for a certain ftipulated bounty,^ flie engaged for a clafs 
of Uxbridge as a Continental Soldier, ^^^ Inflead, then, 
of going to Bofton, flie went back, and was immediately 
conduced to Worcefler ; where fhe was muftered. She 
was enrolled by the name of Robert Shurtlieff. The 
general mufter-maller was, doubtlefs, glad to enrol the 

* General Wafhington refufed any pecuniary pay for his fervices dur- 
ing the war. Our Heroine needed, at leaft, his wealth, to have followed 
the example. 

t Thofe are called Continental Soldiers, who engaged for three years, 
or during the war. 

41 The male population of every Uxbridge. The enliftment was for 

town, capable of bearing arms, was three years, or during the war. Bel- 

at that time divided into clajfes, as lingham is feparated from Uxbridge 

they were called ; and each clafs was by the town of Mendon. The man 

obliged to furnifli a foldier for the ar- who enlifted Deborah is called a fpec- 

my. The clafs fometimes paid a very ulator, becaufe he withheld from her 

confiderable bounty. Deborah en- a part of the bounty-money to which 

lifted, and was accepted, for a clafs in flie was entitled. 



REVIEW. 131 

name of a^yeuth, whofe looks and mien promifed to do 
honor to the caufe, In which ilie was then engaged/' 
Ah, females — we have too long eflimated your abilities 
and worth at too mean a price ! Pardon an inadvertent 
mifapplication of our intellects ; as our profeffion is im- 
provement, and our propenfities to redrefs all wrongs. 

On May 13th, fhe arrived at Weft-Point in company 
with about fifty other foldiers, who were condufled there 
by a ferjeant fent for that purpofe.^^ Weil-Point was 
then an important poft, where was flationed a large di- 
vifion of the American army. It guarded a paffage in 
the river Hudfon, fixty miles from the city of New-York. 
Weft-Point will forever remain diftinguifhed by the infa- 
mous treafon of General Arnold in 1 780. His conduft, 
the preceding winter in the city of Philadelphia, had 

42 The mufter-mafter was Capt. Eli- very fatiguing to her. At the clofe 
phalet Thorp of Dedham, whofe cer- of a chill and drizzly day, on ap- 
tificate has already been given in the proaching a fire in a tavern, fhe faint- 
Introduftion. From his certificate it ed, and fell upon the floor. Recover- 
appears that fhe enhfted May 20, 1782; ing, flie found herfelf furrounded by 
more than a year later than is ftated kind fpirits miniltering to her re- 
in the context, page 120. hef Particularly fhe noticed abeau- 

The flory told by Mrs. Ellet about tiful young woman, the innkeeper's 

Deborah's paffing feven weeks after wife, who offered her cordials and re- 

her enhflment in the family of Capt. frefhments, with many expreffions of 

Nathan Thayer in Medway, and pity and fympathy that one fo young 

the " love paffage " between the fup- and tender fhould fuffer the hardfhips 

pofed Robert Shurtlifife and a girl vif- of fuch a march. This amiable lady 

iting the family, appears to be defli- infifled that the delicate young recruit 

tute of any foundation. fhould take her place in the bed with 

43 In the MS. memoir, fhe fays that her husband. In the memoir, the ac- 
this march of ten or twelve days was count of the march is highly colored. 



132 TH E FE M A LE 

been cenfured ; which gave him offence. The confe- 
quence was — he fought for revenge. He confpired with 
Sir Henry Clinton to deliver Weft-Point and all the 
American army into the hands of the Britifli ; which he 
meant to accomplifh during General Washington's ab- 
fence in Connefticut. But the plot was, providentially, 
difconcerted. Major Andre, Adjutant General in the 
Britifli army, an illuftrious young Officer, had been fent 
as a fpy to concert the plan of operations with Arnold. 
On his return he was overtaken, condemned by a court 
martial, and executed.^ Arnold made his efcape by get- 
ting on board the Vulture, a Britifli veffel : But his char- 
a6ler wears a ftigma, which time can never efface. 

In the morning, fhe croffed the Hudfon, near Fort 
Clinton. This is one of the moft beautiful and ufeful 
rivers in the United States. It takes its name, as do 
many others in America, from its difcoverer. Its fource 
is between the lakes Ontario, and Champlain, running in 
a Southern direftion two hundred and fifty miles, till it 
falls into the ocean ; where it forms a part of New- York 
harbor. It is navigable for fliips of almoft any burthen to 
the city of the fame name, a hundred and thirty fix miles 
from its mouth. 

They marched on level land, and quickly had orders 

* A particular account of his behaviour, from the time he was cap- 
tured to his execution, would heave the moft ftubborn bofom, and affed 
the magnanimous mind. 



REVIEW. 



13. 



to parade for infpeftion. — The foldiers were detached 
into their proper companies and regiments. It fell to 
her lot to be in Capt. Webb's company of light infantry, 
in Col. Shepard's regiment, and in General Patterson's 
Brigade.'^^ 

The fecond day, fhe drew a French fufee, a knapfack, 
cartridge-box, and thirty cartridges. Her next bufmefs 
was to clean her piece, and to exercife once every morn- 
ing in the drill, and at four o'clock, P. M. on the grand 
parade. Her garb was exchanged for a uniform peculiar 
to the infantry. It confifled of a blue coat lined with 
white, with white wings on the flioulders and cords on 
the arms and pockets; a white waiftcoat, breeches or 
overhauls and {lockings, with black ftraps about the 
knees ; half boots, a black velvet ftock, and a cap, with a 
variegated cockade, on one fide, a plume tipped with red 



44 Our heroine enlifted in the 
Fourth Maffachufetts Regiment, com- 
manded at that time by Col. Wil- 
liam Shepard of Wellfield, but foon 
afterwards by Col. Henry Jackfon 
of Bofton. This regiment was the 
old Ninth. Col. Shepard had com- 
mand of it from i yjy to 1 782. George 
Webb was one of the captains. 

Col. William Shepard was born 
Dec. I, 1737, fon of Deacon John 
Shepard. He entered the army at 
the age of feventeen ; was, in 1759, ^ 
captain under Gen. Amherft in the 
old French war ; and was in various 
battles, as at Fort William Henry, 



Crown Point, &c. He married Sarah 
Dewey, who was his wife fifty-feven 
years. Entering the army of the 
Revolution as lieutenant-colonel, he 
was colonel in 1777, and in 1782 a 
brigadier - general. He fought in 
twenty-two battles. He was after- 
wards major-general of the militia. 
From 1797, he was a member of Con- 
grefs fix years. For thirty-four years 
he was a profeiTor of religion, and a 
conftant attendant upon public wor- 
fhip. His houfe was a houfe of prayer. 
He died at Weftfield, Mass., Nov. 11, 
1 81 7, aged nearly eighty. — [Allen's 
Biog. Dia., 3d edit.] 



134 THE FEMALE 

on the other, and a white fafli about the crown. Her 
martial apparatus, exclufive of thofe in marches, were a 
gun and bayonet, a cartridge-box and hanger with white 
belts. She says, fhe learned the manual exercife with fa- 
cility and difpatch, though fhe lofl her appetite ; which, 
through favor, flie afterwards recovered. 

Her flature is perhaps more than the middle fize ; 
that is, five feet and feven inches. The features of her 
face are regular ; but not what a phyfiognomifl; would 
term the mofl beautiful. Her eye is lively and pene- 
trating. She has a fkin naturally clear, and flufhed with 
a blooming carnation. But her afpe6l is rather mafculine 
and ferene, than effeminate and fillily jocofe. Her waift 
might difpleafe a coquette : but her limbs are regularly 
proportioned. Ladies of tafle confidered them hand- 
fome, when in the mafculine garb.* Her movement is 
ere6l, quick and flrong: geftiires naturally mild, ani- 
mating and graceful ; fpeech deliberate, with firm articu- 
lation. Her voice is not difagreeable for a female. 

Such is the natural formation, and fuch the appear- 
ance of the FEMALE, whom I have now introduced into a 
fervice — dreadful I hope, to mofl men, and certainly, de- 
flructive to all. Perhaps, exclufive of other irregularities, 

* She wore a bandage about her breafts, during her difguife, for a very 
different purpofe from that which females wear round their waifts. It is 
not improbable, that the fevere preffure of this bandage ferved to com- 
prefs the bofom, while the waift had every natural convenience for aug- 
mentation. 



REVIEW. 135 

we mufl announce the commencement of fuch an enter- 
prife a great prefumption in a female, on account of the 
inadequatenefs of her nature. Love and propenfity are 
nearly allied ; and we have, already, difcovered the effi- 
cacy of both. No love is without hope : but that only is 
genuine, which has for its obje6l virtue, and is attended 
with refolution and magnanimity. By thefe, the animal 
economy is enabled to furmount difficulties and to accom- 
plifli enterprifes and attain objefts, which are unattain- 
able by the efforts of the other paffions. When love fmks 
into defpondency, the whole fyftem becomes enervated, 
and is rendered incapacitated for the attainment of com- 
mon obje6ls. — What is Liberty — I mean, in a genuine 
fenfe ? The love of it prompts to the expofure of our 
property and the jeopardy of our lives. This is the 
furefl definition of it : For interwoven with and depen- 
dent on it, are all our enjoyments. Confequently, love, 
the noblefl paffion in man, in no other inftance, can do 
more, or better fhow its effefts. 



<?=^^Ji!S^^5=i), 



^^. ^Jtv.^K.s^tc^^l'U^l^^K«j>l<u;>!^.^l^.^1^^^ 



CHAP. VII. 

March byjlages from Weji-Point to Haerlem; from thence 
to White Plains, — Her company of infantry engage a 
party of Dutch cavalry. — Retreat and are reinforced by 
Col. S PRO AT. Capture of the Britifli Army under Lord 
CoRNWALLis at York-Town, where our heroine does 
duty during thejiege. 

SIX years having elapfed fmce our revolutionary 
Epoch, four years and ten months fince our ever me- 
morable hidependence — Columbia's Daughter treads the 
field oi Mars!^^ And though fhe might, like Flora, have 



45 The time when Deborah Samp- 
fon joined the army is here declared 
to have been May, 1781. The fame 
ftatement is made in the MS. memoir; 
where, after relating the manner of 
her leaving home in April, 1781, as 
fhe affirms ; her vifiting Taunton, 
New Bedford, Bofton, Dedham, and 
other towns ; her enhftment at Bel- 
lingham, &c., — fhe adds, "It was near 
the lafl of April when we arrived at 
Worcefler, where a regular mufler 
and enrolment took place. ... A large 
company of us then commenced our 
march for the camp at Wefl Point, 
commanded by a fergeant, who was 
fent from the lines for that pur- 
pofe." She then defcribes at confid- 
erable length, and in an animated, 
picturefque ftyle, the march to the 



Hudfon. "We croffed the Houfa- 
tonic," fhe fays, " at New Milford, on 
the 1 2th of May." A day or two la- 
ter, they croffed the Hudfon at Weft 
Point, and joined the army. Thefe 
flatements are made by Mr. Mann as 
the mouth-piece of Deborah Samp- 
fon. 

Notwithflanding this fulnefs and 
particularity of ftatement, there is 
much reafon to believe that fhe did 
not enhft till at leaft a year later. In 
her petition to the General Court in 
January, 1792, fhe fays fhe enlifted 
May 20, 1782. Capt. Thorp, the 
mufter-mafler, fays fhe enlifted on that 
day ; the refolve of the General 
Court makes the fame fbatement ; the 
records of the Firft Baptift Church 
in Middleborough fay, that, in the 



REVIEW. 137 

graced the damafk rofe, and have continued, peradventure, 
in the contemplation and unmolefted enjoyment of her 
rural and fylvan fcenes ; yet, for a feafon, flie chofe the 
flieathlefs cutlafs, and the martial plume. She is a 
nymph, fcarcely paft her teens ! — Think — females, think 
— but do not refolve till you fliall have heard the 
fequel. 

We have already found, that fhe did not engage in this 
perhaps unprecedented achievement, without the precau- 
tion of refleffion and pathetic debates on the caufe. 
And this renders her more excufable than many foldiers, 
who rufli, like the horfe, to the battle, before they eflab- 
lifh their proper ultimatum, which is derived only from a 
thorough inveftigation of the principles of the conten- 
tion. Happy for us, that a diffemination of this knowl- 
edge is oftener the effe6l of a confederated Republic, than 
of the jurifdiftion of an unlimited monarch. But neith- 
er a delirium, nor love in diflraftion, has driven her pre- 
cipitate to this direful extremity. In cool blood, yet with 
firm attachment, we now fee blended in her, the peerleff- 
nefs of enterprife, the deportment, ardor and heroifm of 

fpring of 1782, fhe put on men's faid fo. Her filence proves, in our 
clothes, and enhfted as a foldier. In apprehenfion, that ihe did not. But 
any ordinary cafe, fuch evidence would Mr. Mann defired to make an inter- 
be decifive. In the aforefaid petition, efting book ; and therefore included 
fhe would afluredly make the moft of among the experiences of Deborah 
her cafe. If fhe had participated in Sampfon the great campaign of 1781. 
the campaign which refulted in the This matter has been fully confid- 
triumph at Yorktown, fhe would have ered in the Introduction. 
18 



138 THE FEMALE 

the veteran, with the milder graces, vigor and bloom of 
her fecreted, fofter fex. 

On the tenth day in the morning, at reveille-beat, the 
company to which flie belonged, with fome others, had 
orders to parade and march. They drew four days pro- 
vifion ; which, with her large fack of clothes and martial 
apparatus, would have been a burthen too much for fe- 
males, accuflomed only to delicate labor. She left fome 
of her clothes, performed the march, and ufe foon be- 
came a fecond nature. 

As the infantry belonged to the rangers, a great part 
of their bufmefs was fcouting ; which they followed in 
places mofl likely for fuccefs. In this duty fhe continued 
till they arrived at Haerlim ; where they continued a few 
days, and then proceeded in like manner to White Plains. 
Here they, in their turn, kept the lines, and had a num- 
ber of small fkirmiflies ; but nothing uncommon occurred 
in thefe places. 

On July 3d, fhe experienced in a greater degree, what 
flie had before moflly known by anticipation.^^ Captain 



46 We know of no reafon to doubt ing-party. They croffed the Hudfon 

the truth of what is related in this at Stony Point. This brought them 

paragraph and that immediately fuc- to the eaft fide of that river. Their 

ceeding. A better ftatement, abridged deflination was the neutral ground 

from the MS. memoir, with fome ad- between the American and Britifh 

ditions, is the following : — armies. They halted for one night at 

About the loth of June, a detach- Tarrytown, where the detachment 

ment of troops, including our heroine, was divided into two parties. They 

received orders to go out on a fcout- foon came into the vicinity of the en- 



REVIEW. 



139 



Webb's company being on a fcout in the morning, and 
headed by Enfign Town, came up with a party of Dutch 
cavalry from Gen. Delancie's core then in Morfena. 
They were armed with carabines, or fufees, and broad 
fwords. The a6lion commenced on their fide. The 
Americans withflood two fires before they had orders to 
retahate. The ground was then warmly difputed for 



emy's pickets, which they were care- 
ful to elude. They proceeded as far 
as Haerlem, within the Britifh lines, 
and only eight miles from the city of 
New York, then held by the Britifh 
army. After making fuch obferva- 
tions of the enemy's pofitions as they 
were able, they turned back to the 
White Plains. About the 25th of 
June, they left the White Plains, and 
direfled their courfe towards the Hud- 
fon. The next day, the fkirmifh hap- 
pened which is related in the text. 
It took place in the neighborhood of 
Tappan Bay, between Sing Sing and 
Tarrytown. The party encountered 
was a detachment from Col. Delancy's 
regiment of dragoons, confilling chief- 
ly, if not wholly, of Tories, and then 
Itationed at Morrifania, near the 
Sound. This regiment confifted in 
part of defcendants of the old Dutch 
fettlers : hence the phrafe in the text, 
" Dutch cavalry." Delancy was an 
a^live officer ; and his regiment made 
frequent incurlions beyond the Britifh 
lines, bent on rapine and often com- 
mitting afts of great cruelty. 

The enemy commenced the attack 



by a volley from their carbines ; then 
fuddenly wheeled about and gallop- 
ed away. The Americans, being on 
foot, had no opportunity to return the 
fire. Repeating the attack, their 
fecond fire was anfwered by a moft 
deadly difcharge from the Continen- 
tals. The enemy being re-enforced 
by a party of Tories on foot, the Ameri- 
cans were compelled to retreat to a 
piece of woods near by, ftill keeping 
up a fcattering fire. They were foon 
ftrengthened by the arrival of a part 
of Col. Sproat's regiment, and poured 
in a deftru6live fire upon the enemy, 
who were fpeedily compelled to a hafty 
and diforderly retreat, after fuftaining 
a heavy lofs. 

It muft have been in this encoun- 
ter that fhe was wounded, although 
"The Female Review" and the MS. 
memoir reprefent the wound as hav- 
ing been received in a fkirmifh with 
a marauding party of Tories at a later 
period. Both in her petition to the 
General Court, Ja«uary, 1792, and in 
her declaration under oath, Septem- 
ber, 1 81 8, fhe fays fhe was wounded at 
Tarrytown. 



I40 THE FEMALE 

confiderable time. At length, the infantry were obliged 
to give way : but they were quickly reinforced by a de- 
tachment led on by Col. Sproat, a valiant officer of the 
fecond Maffachufetts regiment.^^ They were then too 
much for the enemy, although a large number had land- 
ed from boats for their affiftance. The ground they had 
gained was then meafured back with precipitance, even 
to a confiderable diftance within their own lines ; where 
the adlion terminated. 

The Americans having retired to their encampment, 
our fair Soldier, with fome others, came near lofmg her 
life by drinking cold water. She fays, fhe underwent 
more with the fatigue and heat of the day, than by fear 
of being killed ; although her left-hand man was fliot 
dead the fecond fire, and her ears and eyes were contin- 
ually tormented with the expiring agonies and horrid 



47 This excellent officer, Col. Eben- ers in the enterprife of fettling the 

ezer Sproat, was a native of Middle- prefent State of Ohio ; and was known 

borough. He was the tallell man in to the Indians as the " Big Buckeye ;" 

the brigade of Gen. John Glover, whence originated the term fmce ap- 

of which his regiment formed a part ; plied to all the people of that State, 

being fix feet and four inches in height. He died fuddenly, at Marietta, his 

Of the perils of the war he largely refidence, in February, 1805, aged 

partook, being engaged in the battles fifty-three. — [Hildreth's Early Set- 

of Trenton, Princeton, Monmouth, tiers of OhioJl 

and many others. His fuperior ex- Our author is not careful about his 

cellence as a difciplinarian attracted fpelling. In the text we have " Gen. 

the notice of the Baron Steuben, in- Delancie" for Col. Delancy; " core " 

fpector-general of the army, who ap- inftead of corps; and Morrifania is 

pointed him infpeftor of the brigade, transformed into " Morfena," all in a 

After the war, he was one of the lead- fingle line. 



REVIEW. 141 

fcenes of many others ilruggling in their blood. She 
recollefts but three on her fide, who were killed, John 
Beeby, James Battles and Nooble Sperin.^^ She ef- 
caped with two fhots through her coat, and one through 
her cap. 

Perhaps, by this time, fome may be ready to tax her 
with extreme obduracy, and, without mercy, to announce 
her void of all delicacy of fentiment and feeling. And 
really, had this been her cuftomary plight in her kitchen 
at home, flie might not have paffed for an agreeable 
companion : for fhe was perfeftly befmeared with gun- 
powder. But if we refle6l, that this was not the effeft of 
indolence or fluttifhnefs, but for ought we know, of the 
moft endearing attachment to her country; it ought, at 
leafl, to awaken the gratitude of thofe, who may remain 
too callous to this great philanthropic paffion. It be- 
hooves every one to confider, that war, though to the 
higheft degree deftru6live and horrid, is efifeflually cal- 
culated to rouze up many tender and fympathetic paf- 
fions. If the principles of humanity and benevolence 
are ever to be forced into exertion, war, which fliould be 
the laffc refource, muil have the defired efifeft. And this 
renders it, at beft, but a neceffary evil ; and the promoters 
of it are the fubjeds of the greatefl afperfion. Let us 



48 Others were killed and wounded, was well acquainted with the perfons. 
flie knew not how many. Thefe names The proper fpelling is John Beebe, 
(he happened to remember, as fhe James Battles, Noble Sperin. 



142 



THE FE MALE 



be free from all other evils, to which dire neceffity does 
not prompt, and we may excufe, even 2i female, for taking 
arms in defence of all that is dear and lovely. — She, 
doubtlefs, once thought fhe could never look on the 
battle-array. She now fays, no pen can defcribe her feel- 
ings experienced in the commencement of an engage- 
ment, the fole objeft of which is, to open the fluices of 
human blood. The unfeigned tear of humanity has 
more than once ftarted into her eye in the rehearfal of 
fuch a fcene as I have jufl defcribed.^^ 



49 At this place flie mentions, in the 
MS. memoir, that, juft after this Ikir- 
mifh, Ihe came to be under the com- 
mand of Col. Henry Jackfon, a native 
of Bofton. But Col. Jackfon did not 
affume the command of the Fourth 
Maffachufetts Regiment, in which fhe 
was a foldier, till fome time in 1782, 
upon the promotion of Col. Shepard, 
its former commander, to the rank of 
brigadier - general : fo that here is 
additional evidence that our heroine 
did not join the army till May, 1782. 

In the MS. memoir, in immedi- 
ate connexion with the mention of 
Col. Jackfon, fhe alfo fays, "In Col. 
Jackfon's regiment I readily recog- 
nized Dr. James Thacher of Plym- 
outh, our furgeon. I had before 
known him at his houfe and in its vi- 
cinity," &c. It appears from Dr. 
Thacher's "MiHtary Journal," a work 
of high authority in regard to the 
Revolutionary War, that he was at 



this time furgeon of Col. Henry 
Jackfon's regiment. " Col. Henry 
Jackfon, who commands our regi- 
ment," he fays, " is a native of Bof- 
ton. He is very refpe6lable as a com- 
mander, is gentlemanly in his man- 
ners, ftrongly attached to military af- 
fairs, and takes a peculiar pride in 
the difcipline and martial appearance 
of his regiment." The MS. memoir, 
from which I have fo often quoted, 
fpeaks of Col. Jackfon in terms of the 
warmeft eulogy. " There was," it 
fays, " an affabihty and yet a dignity 
of manner that won the hearts of all 
under his command. This rendered 
obedience to orders, and fubmiffion to 
difcipline, eafy." 

Col. Jackfon, after the war, refided 
in Bofton, was we believe a brigadier- 
general in the militia, and had the 
care of Mrs. Swan's large property 
while her husband was a prifoner in 
France. He is reprefented as having 



REVIEW. 143 

From this time till Autumn, nothing unufual in war 
happened to her. Indeed, it may be faid, every thing flie 
did in this fituation ^n2j$> Jingular ; much of which might 
afford amufement and moral inferences. But the limits 
prefcribed to thefe Memoirs will not admit the detail of 
minute circum{lances.^° 

In Auguft, the Marquis de la Fayette had been dif- 
patched from the main army to contemplate the opera- 
tions of Lord CoRNWALLis's army in Virginia. After a 
multiplicity of mxilitary manoeuvres between them, his 
Lordfhip felefted York-Town and Gloucefter Point as 
the moft confpicuous and advantageous pofls for the feat 
of military operations. — York-Town lies on the river of 
the fame name, which empties into the Chefapeak. It 
forms a capacious harbor, admitting fliips of great bur- 
then. Gloucefter Point being on the oppofite fide, and 

been an elegant and fafcinating man. was taken by Mr. Mann, the corn- 
He died in 1809, and his remains piler, from the printed accounts of 
were depofited in Mrs. Swan's tomb thofe tranfa6lions, efpecially from 
in Dorchefter. He was never mar- Thacher's " Military Journal." This 
ried. work mull have been before him all 
5° We now enter on the details of the while ; for he borrows from it con- 
the glorious and decifive campaign of ftantly, and ufes the very words of 
1 78 1. The various operations in- Dr. Thacher in more than twenty in- 
cluded in this campaign are related fiances ; and yet Deborah Sampfon 
with much more fulnefs in the MS. is reprefented as the fpeaker through 
memoir than in this volume. The the whole ! This portion of the MS. 
account extends through eighty pages, memoir is written in a better llyle 
equalling in length the previous por- than the preceding and fubfequent 
tion of the memoir. But this ac- portions, indicating its origin. Dr. 
count, it is perfe6lly evident, was not Thacher was prefent at the siege of 
furnifhed by Deborah Sampfon, but Yorktown. 



144 



THE FE MALE 



proje6ling fo far into the river, that the diftance being but 
about a mile, they entirely command the navigation of it. 
Thither Cornwallis with 7000 excellent troops repaired ; 
ftrongly fortified the places, and made other good ar- 
rangements. 

About the lafl of Augufl, Count de Grasse arrived 
with a powerful French fleet in the Chefapeak, and 
blockaded York-Town by water. Soon after, Admiral 
Graves with a fleet appeared off the capes of Virginia. 
The French immediately flipped their cables, turned out 
of their anchorage ground, and an aftion fucceeded ; and 
though both fides fuftained confiderable lofs, it was not 
decifive. 

The Generals, Washington and Rochambeau had 
previoufly moved their main armies to the Southward : 
and when they heard of the French Admiral's arrival 
in the Chefapeak, they made the mofl; rapid marches till 
they arrived at the head of the Elk. Within an hour 
after their arrival, they received an exprefs from de Grasse, 
with the joyful intelligence of his arrival and fituation. 
The combined armies embarked on board the veffels 
which the French Admiral had previoufly prepared to 
tranfport them down the Chefapeak ; and by the 25 th of 
September they landed at Williamsburgh. The Ameri- 
can and French Chief Commanders had reached Wil- 
liamsburgh by exceffive travelling eleven days fooner. 
They immediately proceeded to vifit the Admiral on 



REVIEW. 145 

board the Villa de Paris. A council being called, and 
their plan of co-operation fettled, they returned ; and all 
the Americans and allied troops foon formed a collifion 
at Williamsburgh.^' Fayette had previoufly been joined 
by 3000 under the Marquis de st. Simon : The whole 
regular force thus collefted, amounted to nearly 12,000 
men, exclufive of the Virginia militia, which were called 
to fervice, and commanded by governor Nelson. Pre- 
parations were then made with great difpatch for putting 
the army in a fituation to move on to York-Town. 

It is almofl needlefs to mention the hardfliips, that 
common foldiers mufl have undergone in fo long and 
rapid a march. The deficiency of clothing, particularly 
of flioes, but moil of all, the fcanty and wretched quali- 
ty of provifions, augmented their fufferings. Our he- 
roine fuflained her march from fome part of New- York 
with good heart, and without faltering, till the day on 
which fhe landed with the troops at Williamsburgh. She 
was then much indifpofed ; which was not the only time 
flie had experienced the inconveniences of the conceal- 
ment of her fex. She puked for feveral hours without 
much intermiffion ; which fhe imputed chiefly to the roll- 
ing of the veffel. With the refl, fhe here drew good pro- 
vifion and fpirits : and by the next day, fhe was revived ; 
and the luflre and augufl manoeuvring of the army feemed 
to perfe6l a cure beyond the reach of medicine. 

51 " Formed a jun6lion," — " united their forces," the writer means to fay. 
19 



146 THEFEMALE 

On the morning of the 28th of September, after pa- 
rade and review, general orders were read to the armies ; 
wherein his Excellency, Gen. Washington, emphatically 
enjoined — " If the enemy fhould be tempted to meet the 
army on its march, the General particularly enjoins the 
troops to place their principal reliance on the bayonet, that 
they may prove the vanity of the boaji, which the Britijh 
make of their peculiar prowefs in deciding battles by that 
weapon^ After this, the American and French Chief 
Commanders perfonally addreffed their armies. Our 
blooming foldier, always attentive to underftand every 
new manoeuvre and eventful fcene, happened to Hand fo 
near his Excellency Gen. Washington, that flie heard 
diftin6lly what he faid. He fpoke with firm articulation 
and winning geflures : but his afpeft and folemn mode 
of utterance affe6lingly befpoke the great weight, that 
refted on his mind. The common foldiers were before 
moflly ignorant of the expedition, upon which they were 
going.^' Being now informed by general orders and the 
affeftionate addreffes of their leaders, every countenance,, 
even of many who had difcovered a mutinizing fpirit, 
wore an agreeable afpeft, and a mutual harmony and rev- 
erential acquiefcence in the injunftions of their com- 
manders were reciprocated through the whole. 

The phalanx compofed the advanced guards, and was 

52 No foldier in the American army, have been ignorant as to the defign of 
after reaching Philadelphia, could the expedition. 



\ 



REVIEW. 147 

moftly commanded by de la fayette. Our Heroine was 
one of thefe ; and by reafon of the abfence of a non- 
commiffioned officer, fhe was appointed to fupply his place. 
Jufl before the fetting of the fun, Col. Scammell, being 
officer of the day, brought word for the army to halt two 
miles from York-Town. The officers and foldiers were 
flriftly enjoined to lie on their arms all night. 

Such language (flrange to fay) was perfe6lly familiar 
to our fair foldier. It did not even excite in her a tre- 
mor: although it was a prelude to imminent danger. 
She had been ufed to keep her martial apparatus bright 
and in the beft order ; as they were often prematurely 
wanted. Anticipating no greater danger than flie had 
often aftually experienced, although fhe forboded a great 
event, fhe acquiefced in the mandates of her officers with 
a calmnefs, that might have furprifed an unexperienced 
foldier. 

Next morning, after roll-call, their equipments again 
reviewed, they went through the quick motions of load- 
ing and firing blank cartridges by the motion of the 
fword. They formed in clofe column, difplayed to the 
right and left, and formed again. The grand divifion 
then difplayed, formed by platoon, when they were or- 
dered to march in the befl order. The next day, Col. 
Scammell, approaching the enemy's works, was mortally 
wounded and taken prifoner by a party of horfe in am- 
bufcade. York-Town was this day ftrongly invefled by 



148 THE FEMALE 

the allied armies. Their lines being formed, the French 
extending from the river above the town to a morafs, 
where they were met by the Americans on the right, 
their hard fatigues begun. They continued more than a 
week laborious, fuflaining a very heavy cannonade from 
the befieged. This bufmefs came near proving too much 
for 'd, female in her teens. Being naturally ambitious, it 
was mortification too fevere for her to be outdone. Many 
apparently able-bodied men complained, they were unfit 
for duty, and were relieved. Among others, flie affe6led 
pleafure in giving them the mortifying confolation — that, 
although fhe believed their fever was fettled upon them, 
fhe hoped it would prove nothing worfe than the cannon 
or gun-powder fever. 

The fifth night, fhe was one of a party, who was or- 
dered to work on a battery ; the completion of which 
had been prevented by a too intenfe rain of bombs. Be- 
fore morning, flie was almoft ready to yield to the horrors 
of defpair. Her hands were fo bliflered, that fhe could 
fcarcely open or fhut them : and it was nearly twenty- 
four hours fmce flie had taken much nourifhment. But 
flie refolved to perfevere as long as nature would make 
her efforts ; which fhe effe6led almofl beyond credibility. 

On the ninth, the American intrenchments being com- 
pleted, a fevere cannonade and bombardment commenced 
by them on the right, and continued all night without 
intermiffion. Next morning, the French opened their 






REVIEW. 149 

redoubts and batteries on the left ; and a tremendous 
roar of cannon and mortars continued that day without 
ceafmg. — Our Heroine had never before feen either of 
the main armies together. Being thus brought into view 
of them, and led on to a general engagement, doubtlefs 
excited in her fenfations and emotions different from what 
fhe had before experienced. And I fhould need the pa- 
thos of a Homer, and the polifhed numbers of a Hume or 
Pope, to do juftice to her feelings, or to exceed the reality 
of this fcenery. — The ground actually trembled for miles 
by the tremendous cannonade, which was inceffantly 
maintained by both fides day and night. Notwithfland- 
ing it was not fo horribly deflru6live as is generally the 
confequence of an open field acflion ; yet, the contempla- 
tion of two immenfe armies, headed by the moil illuflri- 
ous leaders, each flrenuoufly contending for viftory, muft 
have afforded ideas peculiarly fhocking and auguft. The 
nights exhibited fcenes, to the highefi: degree, folemn and 
awfully fublime. Perpetual fheets of fire and fmoke 
belched, as from a volcano, and towered to the clouds. 
And whilft the eye was dazzled at this, the ear was fatiated 
and flunned by the tremendous explofion of artillery and 
the fcreaming of their fhot.^^ 

I SHALL here notice a heroic deed of this gallantrefs ; 
which, while it deferves the applaufe of every patriot and 

53 The cannonade, on the part of the part of the alHed army, not till the 
the Britifh, commenced Sept. 27 ; on completion of their trenches, 061. 9. 



I50 



TH E FE MALE 



veteran, muft chill the blood of the tender and fenfible 
female. 

Two baftion redoubts of the enemy having advanced 
two hundred yards on the left, which checked the pro- 
grefs of the combined forces, it was propofed to reduce 
them by florm. To infpire emulation in the troops, the 
reduflion of one was committed to the Americans, and 
the other to the French. A fele6l corps was chofen. 
The command of the infantry was given to Fayette, with 
permiffion to manage as he pleafed. He therefore or- 
dered them to remember Cherry- Valley and New-London 
Quarters, and to retaliate accordingly, by putting them 
to the fword, after having earned the redoubts.^^ Our 
Heroine was one of thefe ! At dark, they marched to 
the affault with unloaded arms, but with fixed bayonets ; 
and with unexampled bravery, attacking on all fides at 
once, after fome time of violent refiflance, were complete 
vi6lors of the redoubts. There were two women in the 
one attacked by the Americans, and when our fair foldier 
entered, the third was unknown. After entering, the car- 
nage was fhocking for a few minutes. She, flanding near 

54 There is much reafon for doubt- tance was soon overcome." A New 
ing the truth of this ftatement. Dr. Hampfhire captain, wifhing to avenge 
Thacher, who gives a particular ac- the death of Colonel Scammel, threat- 
count of the assault and capture of ened to take the life of Major Camp- 
these two redoubts, makes no allusion bell, who commanded the redoubt on 
to fuch orders. He fays diflinctly — the left of the Britiih line ; but Col. 
" not a man was killed after he ceafed Alexander Hamilton, who led the 
to refift." " Such was the order dif- ftorming party, would not suffer it to 
played by the alTailants, that all refif- be done. 



REVIEW. 151 

one of the women, heard her pronounce jj/^;^/^^^,* which 
was no fooner articulated, than (he faw a bayonet plunged 
into her breail, and the crimfon, vital liquid, that gufhed 
from the incifion, prevented her further utterance ! After 
this, they cried and begged fo on their knees for quarters, 
that the humanity of the Americans. overcame all refent- 
ment, and they fpared all, who ceafed to refift ; for which 
they were afterwards applauded by their humane officers. 
Before they left the fort, one clapped her on the fhoulder, 
and faid — " Friend^ fear not ; you are only disfigured be- 
hindr She took no apparent notice of what he faid, till 
an opportunity prefented : when, happy for her, flie found 
it no worfe ! The lapelle of her coat dangled by firing ; 
which muft have been the effedl of a broad fword, or of a 
very clofe fhot.^^ 

^ The derivation of this word is from farmer Jonathan Hastings of 
Cambridge about 1713- He ufed it to exprefs -3, good quality. Thus, a 
yankee horfe and yankee cider, were an excellent horfe and excellent cider .'i^ — 
The Britifti ufed it wrongly, as a word of contempt to the Americans. 
Thus, when they marched out of Bofton in 1775, ^^^Y played a march, 
called Yankee doodle ; though the prediction of an a6tive boy was — that 
their retrograde march would be to Chevy Chafe. During this fiege, 
two bombs having fell, their fufes were extra6led whilft burning ; one by 
a Female, the other by a Soldier. The contents of one were fquajli, of 
the other, molajjes. 

55 This account of the derivation tion is from the word " Englifh," cor- 

of the word "Yankee" is borrowed rupted by the Indians into Yenglees-, 

from Thacher's " Military Journal," p. then Yauklees, and finally Yankees. 

19. It is, neverthelefs, wholly unfat- s6 Was Deborah Sampfon here at 

isfactory. The more probable deriva- this time ? Did fhe work in the trench- 



152 THE FEMALE 

Was not this enterprife, alone, in a female, worth the 
attainment of liberty? Yet, where is the fair one, who 
could again hazard it ! Methinks I fee the crimfon cheek 
of the female turning pallid, her vigorous limbs relaxing 
and tottering in the rehearfal of this eventful fcene. Yet, 
let no one imagine I have painted it to the life. The fa6l 
is fimply narrated; and the proper coloring is left for 
thofe peculiar inmates of the female benevolent and he- 
roic breafls. — I haflen to drop the fcene. 

The French commanders, whofe fervices demand the 
gratitude of every American, led on their troops with a 
heroic bravery, fcarcely to be excelled. And whilfl de 
Grasse difplayed much valor, and was doing great execu- 
tion with his Armada, the Americans, headed by the ever 
dear and unrivalled Washington, redoubled their aftivity 
and refolution. Nothing, thus, but inevitable ruin, or an 
entire furrender, awaited Cornwallis : And on the 19th 
of 06lober, after three weeks fevere ftorm," an armiftice 
having taken place for twenty-four hours, he was glad to 
accept the terms of capitulation. — He was not permitted 
to march out with colors flying — an honor that had been 
refufed to Gen. Lincoln the preceding winter, when he, 

es, with bliftered hands, on the night ftrong, arrived before Yorktown Sept. 

of the 7th 06lober ? Was fhe one of 27. They were engaged till 061. 9 in 

the ftorming-party on the night of the throwing up intrenchments ; fuffering 

15th ? Did fhe witnefs the furrender all the while a fevere cannonade from 

of CornwaUis ? We confefs we have the town. On the evening of the 

our doubts on the fubjeft. 9th they firft opened fire on the 

57 The allied forces, about 12,000 British lines. 



REVIEW. 153 

with all the American garrifon, was captured in Charlefton, 
South Carolina.^^ Lincoln was now appointed to receive 
his fword and the fubmiffion of the royal army precifely 
in the mode his own had been condufted. 

The marching out of fuch an immenfe army, as prif- 
oners of war, muft have been a fcene the moft folemn and 
important. The magnanimity which was difcovered in 
Gen. Washington upon this occafion, was inexpreffibly 
peculiar. Tears trickled from his eyes during the moft of 
the fcene.^*^ And a view of him in thefe moments muft 
have forced a tear of reverential gratitude from the mofl 
obdurate. He thought of his country ! — Remember the 
PATRIOT — remember the philanthropist ! 

Thus, was the grand pillar of war, at length, broken 
down, and an ample foundation laid for the eflablifhment 
of the fo much celebrated, and wiflied for palladium of 
peace. We certainly owe this event, at leaft, in a great 
meafure, to our generous auxiliaries. Had they not lent 
us their powerful and timely aid, America, for any thing 
we can tell, might have flill clanked her chain under a 
monarchical and defpotic fway. Mufl not a remembrance 
of their leaders, particularly of Fayette, ftart the tear 

58 Gen. Lincoln with his army, that he wept on this occafion. Dr. 
and the city of Charlefton, furren- Thacher, who was an eye-witnefs of 
dered to the Britifh forces under Sir the fcene, and defcribes it with great 
Henry Clinton, May 12, 1780. particularity, makes no mention of 

59 Gen. Wafhington was not in- fuch want of felf-control on the part 
clined to weep, and it is not likely of the American commander-in-chief 

20 



154 THE FEMALE 

of gratitude, and of filial and fympathetic attachment ? 
He generoufly and nobly made Columbia's Cause his 
own. Unhappy man! Happy perhaps he might have 
continued, had not his philanthropic defigns been baffled 
in his exertions to put them in execution in his native 
country. Difappointed in thefe, his warmeil wiflies, be- 
hold him dragging out a more ufeful intended exiftence 
in a loathfome dungeon ! ^ O wretched, inhuman return 
for philanthropy — the beft fervices of man ! 

See vegetable nature all confpire 
To make man bleft, his ultimate defire : 
Yet, mark how erring to great nature's plan, 
That man, made wife, fhould be unjuft to man ! 

Whilfl our blood can never ceafe to thrill with indigna- 
tion for his fufferings, may our gratitude and reverence 

* Soon after the revolution in France, an accufation was decreed 
againft him ; and in attempting to efcape, he was apprehended in Magde- 
burg and imprifoned. Heaven grant, he may have been liberated be- 
fore this time ! ^° 

60 On the memorable loth of Au- his own life to be in peril from popu- 

guft, 1792, the populace of Paris rofe lar violence. He was, indeed, at this 

in arms, attacked the Palace of the jundlure, accufed of treafon by the 

Tuileries, maffacred the Swifs guards, popular leaders, and a price was fet 

and dethroned the king. Lafayette, upon his head. He therefore, on the 

who, during the earlier part of the 17th of Auguft, quitted the army and 

French Revolution, had concurred the territory of France with twelve 

in the conllitudonal reforms decreed officers of rank, intending to proceed 

by the National Affembly, and who to the United States. They had trav- 

was at this time in command of an elled but a fhort diflance, when they 

army ftationed on the frontiers to op- were all taken prifoners by the Pruf- 

pofe the P ruffian invafion, now felt fians ; and Lafayette was put in clofe 



REVIEW. 



155 



never cool towards this illuftrious, but diftreffed, noble- 
man. May a reciprocity of friendfhip and affeftion con- 
ciliate and cement us more ftrongly with France, our 
once helpful and now fifter republic. We folicit England 
to fliake hands with Columbia, her natural offspring. 
Let the banners of war be forever furled, the fword of 
contention fheathed in its proper place ; and may fhe al- 
ways forget to prove inimical to her eftablifhed cause. 
May philanthropy become as extenfive as the nations of 
the earth : Men fhall then quit their fallacious purfuits, 
retire to their refpeclive and proper occupations, and learn 
humility and propriety of conduft. Then fhall mutual 
harmony, peace and profperity pervade the world. 

I SHALL leave our fair Soldier, or as fhe was frequently 
called, the blooming boy, in winter quarters not far from 
Weft-Point and the banks of the Hudfon, or North River, 
in what were called the York huts. She arrived at this 
place in December, much debilitated and difpirited by 
hard marches and fatigues. She was deftitute of fhoes, 
as were moft of the foldiers during the march ; except- 
ing raw hides, which they cut into ftraps and faftened 
about their feet. It was not uncommon to track them 



confinement in the Caftle of Mag- Treaty of Campo Formio, Odl. 18, 
deburg, once the abode of Baron 1797, negotiated under the preflure of 
Trenck, and was foon after imprif- that conqueror's great fuccefles in 
oned in the ftrong Fortrefs of Olmutz. Italy, ftipulated for the releafe of La- 
To the honor of Napoleon it Ihould fayette, after Wafliington had inter- 
be faid that one of the articles of the ceded for him in vain. 



156 THEFEMALE 

by the bleeding of their feet on the fnow and ice.^' And 
it appeared, their officers fared not much better ; although 
they ufed their greatefl efforts to foothe, animate and en- 
courage the foldiers, principally with the profpefls of 
peace, and the great honor they fhould gain by perfever- 
ing to the end. 

Just before their arrival, one of her company having 
been feverely chaflifed for ftealing poultry, importuned 
her to defert with him and two others. But fhe not only 
difdainfully refufed, but ufed all the eloquence, of which 
fhe was miftrefs, to diffuade them from fo prefumptive an 
attempt. Having hazarded one defperate prefumption 
herfelf, fhe chofe to take her lot in the prefent and future 
ills ; though, peradventure, her fex might in fome mea- 
fure, have juflified her breach of contradl. The argu- 
ments fhe enforced were — that, it would not only be an 
evidence of difloyalty to their country, a token of coward- 
ice, a breach of civil obligation, but the greatefl jeopardy 
of their lives. As female eloquence is generally irrefifli- 
ble, they here yielded to its energy : although they were 
infenfible, that it was articulated through female organs. 

Having repaired the huts, in which bufmefs fhe froze 
her feet to that degree, that fhe lofl all her toe-nails, the 
foldiers were culled, in order that all who had not had 
the fmall pox might be inoculated. The foldiers, who 

6i There is nothing of this fort in " Military Journal." Of courfe, there 
the MS. memoir, nor in Thacher's is exaggeration here. 



REVIEW. 157 

were to be inoculated, paraded ; when our Heroine, for 
the firft time, ihewed an averfion to it. Determined to 
hazard taking this malignant diflemper unaware, fhe 
would even have falfified the truth of her having had it, 
fooner than have gone to the hofpital ; where the pride 
and glory of her fex, the fource of the blooming boy, 
might have been difclofed.^^ 

She did duty, fometimes as a common foldier, and fome- 
times as a ferjeant ; which was moflly on the lines, patrol- 
ling, collefting fuel, &c. As the winter was very intenfe, 
the fnow the moft of the time deep, I fhall leave it for the 
confiderate to imagine the unufual hardfhips of a female 
in this fituation. She went cheerful to her tafks, and was 
never found loitering when fent on duty or enterprize. 

62 In the MS. memoir, fhe fays, fore excufed, and by the favor of a 

" Dreading the expofure of my per- kind Providence efcaped the conta- 

fon, and the confequent difcovery of gion, though often expofed to it." 
my fex, far more than death, I told Dr. Thacher places the inoculation 

a plump lie to the furgeon, in the of the troops for fmall-pox in January, 

ftatement that I had long fmce ex- 1782. Of courfe, it took place before 

perienced that difeafe. I preferred her enhftment. He inoculated, he 

to hazard taking the fmall-pox rather fays, about two hundred, including 

than go to the hofpital. I was there- women and children. 



<: » X..^K.^W^|c,^l^.^l^^^^i^l^v^!^.^l^^^t^.^l^u^l^^^^lu; 



CHAP. VIII. 

Building of the colonnade on Weft-Point after the open- 
ing of the Campaign. — Writes to her Mother. — A fe- 
vere skirmish, where fite receives two wounds, and is left 
in the French hofpitaL — Returns to the army on their 
lines. — Is left with afickfoldier in a Dutchman s family, 
who is a tory and treats her ill. — Heroic adventure in 
her MODE of Retaliation. — She and a party, being at- 
tacked by a party of Dutch Cavalry, are obliged to ford 
a dangerous ferry. — The main Army retire to Winter 
Quarters at New- Windfor. — She is one of a detachment 
fent to reinforce Gen. Schuyler in fubduing the Indians 
on the Frontiers above Albany ; where a number of hor- 
rid fcenes are exhibited. 

T TAVING now furniihed a clue, by which the fucceed- 
-^ -*- ing common occurrences of our diftlnguifhed Fair, 
whilfl a foldier, may be gathered, I fhall not tire the pa- 
tience of the reader in their enumeration. Though, as 
common as they then were to her, could they be exhibited 
afrefh by an indifferent female, I am confident I have not 
a reader, but would think his leifure interims luxuriantly 
employed in their recital. But I haften to a narration of 
thofe, on which to dwell mufl be luxury and wonder ; but 
to pafs them unnoticed, criminal injuflice. 

Though peace had not longer been anticipated than 
wifhed for ; yet, the condu6l of both armies after the 



REVIEW. 



159 



opening of the campaign feemed to place it as a matter 
of extreme uncertainty. The opening of this campaign 
was diflinguiflied by the building of a Colonnade, or 
rather a Bowery, on Weft-Point. It was begun on the 
3d of May, and completed after about three weeks fatigue. 
In this bufmefs, our heroic Female often worked againft 
the mofl robuft and expert foldier : and had not the deli- 
cate texture of her frame been concealed, it would, doubt- 
lefs, have been judged, that fhe was very unequally 
mated. 

When this delightful building was finiflied, the officers 
held a meeting of focial intercourfe and conviviality. 
The full, fparkling bowl was here handed cheerfully round. 
Many toafts of health and long life were drank to the 
half-divine Washington — to the true fons of freedom and 
republicanifm — to the increafe and perpetuity of our al- 
liance with France, and giving three cheers for the new- 
born Dauphin of that realm, they concluded the day.^^ 

63 Dr. Thacher notices the erection feet in length, and thirty in width, sup- 
of this edifice, and the magnificent ported by a grand colonnade of one 
feftival in it after it was finifhed. The hundred and eighteen pillars made 
feftival was on the 31st of May, 1782. of the trunks of trees. The roof con- 
About one tlioufand men were em- fifted of branches of trees curioufly 
ployed about ten days in the conftruc- interwoven, and the walls were of the 
tion of this curious edifice, under the fame materials, leaving the ends en- 
dire6lion of Major Villefranche, an tirely open. " This fuperb fl:ru6lure," 
ingenious French engineer. It was he fays, " in fymmetry of proportion, 
on the efplanade of Wefi; Point, and neatnefs of workmanfhip, and ele- 
was compofed of the fimple materials gance of arrangement, has feldom, 
which the common trees of that vi- perhaps, been furpaffed on any tempo- 
cinity afforded. It was fix hundred rary occafion." The fefi;ival held in 



i6o THE FEMALE 

The reader has long enough been in fufpenfe to know 
what effeft her elopement had on her mother and con- 
nexions, and what method Ihe took to pacify, as we may 
fuppofe, their half diftrafted minds. Though flie received 
her education in obfcurity, the news of her elopement, or 
among other conjeftures, that flie had come to fome 
untimely catallrophe, flew to a great diflance. Her 
mother, raifmg a thoufand doubts and fears was almofl: 
inconfolably wretched. Sometimes flie harbored the too 
often poignant reflexion, that her too rigorous exertions 
to precipitate her union with the gentleman I have before 
mentioned, had driven her to fome direful and fatal alter- 
native. The like dire, alternate thoughts filled her un- 
diffembled Lover, with emotions he could ill conceal. 
And like a man of fenfe and breeding, he commiferated 
each of their misfortunes. Frantic at times, when reflec- 
tion had pi6lured to his imagination all her frightful groups 
of ideas and images, he would curfe his too overbearing 
importunity and too open declaration of his paffions. 
Thefe, he too late furmifed, were the caufe of her leaving 
him abruptly, (which, by the bye, is the reverfe of com- 
mon circumfl;ances) and, for aught he knew, of her cafual 
exit from all earthly objefts ; or, that the too warm pref- 

this remarkable edifice was in honor feilival in exa6l accordance with the 

of the new-born Dauphin of France account given by Dr. Thacher ; in no 

and of the French alliance. The MS. less than twelve inftances, ufing his 

memoir, from which I have often very words. Of courfe, this could 

quoted, defcribes the edifice and the not be by mere accident. 



REVIEW, i6i 

fure of his love had rendered him odious, and that flie 
had too juftly punifhed him by throwing herfelf into the 
embraces of a more agreeable rival. He determined, 
however, were it pra6licable, once more to fee her, and to 
congratulate her on her union with a better companion, 
than he could make ; — or, fhould fhe conceive as he 
once thought fhe had, a growing affedlion for him, he 
fhould rejoice to find himfelf, in the road for that happi- 
nefs, which alone could render his exigence fatisfactory, 
or fcarcely defirable. 

For this purpofe, one of her brothers made a fruitlefs 
expedition a number of hundred miles to the Eaftward 
among fome of her relations^ Her Suitor took his rout 
to the Weftward. And among his rambles, he vifited the 
feat of war; where he faw his half adorable objeft of 
love. But as fortune, adverfe or propitious, would have 
it, he knew not, that fhe, who appeared in martial at- 
tire, was the tender obje6l, who occupied the mofl diftin- 
guiflied feat in his bofom. Her eyes were not deceptory ; 
and when fiie heard the articulation of her name in his 
enquiries, it was not becaufe fhe flighted him, nor becaufe 
fhe was enraptured with his love, that flie, a fecond time, 
haftened from his prefence. The big tear trembled in 



64 This brother went to Meduncook, Jofhua Bradford, who had married her 
now Friendfhip, on the feacoall of mother's eldeft filler, Hannah Brad- 
Maine, to fee if fhe had not taken up ford. See note, page 47. This place 
a refidence there with the children of is a few miles weft of Penobfcot Bay. 
21 



i62 THEFEMALE 

her eye ; and when fhe turned to conceal her emotions, 
fhe filently and reludlantly bid him adieu.^^ 

After many wearifome fteps and unfuccefsful re- 
fearches, he returned home ; when it was concluded, that 
fhe muft have croffed the wide Atlantic, or have found 
an untimely fepulchre in her own country. — She was pre- 
ferved ; and fhe only could cure the cruel fufpenfe and 
racking fenfations, which would be brutal to fuppofe did 
not pervade their bofoms on this occafion. The mind is 
fcarcely capable of pifturing a contraft more trying to the 
tender paffions than this. And no doubt, flie allotted 
her fequeftered retirements to indulge the forrowing, un- 
noticed tear; when the anguifh of a mother, of her rela- 
tives and of him, whofe felicity fhe knew was perfe6lly 
interwoven with her own, took complete poffeffion of her 
mind together. — After flriving a long time in vain to 
eafe the diftrefs of her mother, and to exonerate the too 
intenfe burden of her own mind by writing, fhe found an 
opportunity, and enclofed to her the fubftance of the fol- 
lowing : ^^ 

6s The account here given is not tenderly towards him, and would 

accurate. Deborah faw him : it is gladly have thanked him for his in- 

not certain that he faw her. Some of tereft in her welfare ; but fhe did not 

her comrades told her of the inquiries fpeak to him, and would not rifk a 

he was making refpecting her. By difcovery of herfelf to him. He there- 

this means, alfo, fhe actually heard fore returned without fuccefs. 
from home ; heard that her mother 66 This letter was doubtlefs com- 

and other friends were well ; that a pofed, like fome of Cicero's orations, 

great excitement had been occafioned long after the time when it was faid 

by her elopement. She fays fhe felt to have been written. It is given 



REVIEW. 163 

May, 1782. 

DEAR PARENT, 

ON the margin of one of thofe rivers, which inter- 
fe6ls and winds Itfelf fo beautifully majeflic through a 
vafl: extent of territory of the United States, is the pref- 
ent fituation of your unworthy, but conftant and affe6lion- 
ate daughter. — I pretend not to juftify, or even to palliate, 
my clandefline elopement. In hopes of pacifying your 
mind, which, I am fure, muft be afflifted beyond meafure, 
I write you this fcrawl. Confcious of not having thus 
abruptly abfconded by reafon of any fancied ill treatment 
from you, or difaffeftion towards any ; the thoughts of 
my difobedience are truly poignant. Neither have I a 
plea, that the infults of man have driven me hence : And 
let this be your confoling refleftion — that I have not fled to 
offer more daring infults to them by a proffered proftitu- 
tion of that virtue, which I have always been taught to 
preferve and revere. The motive is truly important; 
and when I divulge it, my fole ambition and delight fhall 
be to make an expiatory facrifice for my tranfgreffion. 

I AM in a large, but well regulated family. My employ- 
ment is agreeable, although it is fomewhat different and 
more intenfe than it was at home : But I apprehend it is 
equally as advantageous. My fuperintendents are in- 

in the MS. memoir with confiderable tion of Mr. Mann, not of Deborah 
variation in the words, and in a more Sampfon. The ftyle differs not at all 
ambitious flyle. It is the compofi- from that of the reft of the book. 



i64 THE FEMALE 

dulgent ; but to a punctillio, they demand a due obferv- 
ance of decorum and propriety of condu6l. By this you 
mufl know, that I have become miftrefs of many ufeful 
leffons, though I have many more to learn. Be not too 
much troubled, therefore, about my prefent or future en- 
gagements; as I will endeavor to make that prudence 
and virtue my model, for which, I own, I am much in- 
debted to thofe, who took the charge of my youth. 

My place of refidence and the adjacent country are, 
beyond defcription, delightfome. The earth is now preg- 
nant with vegetation ; and the banks of the river are al- 
ready decorated with all the luxuriance of May. The 
cottages, that peep over the rifmg grounds, feem perched 
like eagles' nefts ; and the nobler buildings, well culti- 
vated plantations and the continual paffmg and re-paffmg 
of veffels in the river below, form one of the moft pleaf- 
ingly variegated and noble profpefts, I may fay. In the 
world. — Indeed were it not for the ravages of war, of 
which I have feen more here than in Maffachufetts, this 
part of our great continent would become a paradifiacal 
elyfium. Heaven condefcend, that a fpeedy peace may 
conftitute us a happy and independent nation : when the 
husband fliall again be reilored to his amiable confort, to 
wipe her forrowing tear, the fon to the embraces of his 
mourning parents and the lover to the tender, difconfolate 
and half diftrafted objeft of his love. — 

Your affe6lionate Daughter. 



REVIEW. 165 

This letter, being intrufled with a flranger, was inter- 
cepted. — Let us now refume her progrefs in war. 

Passing over many marches, forward and retrograde, 
and numberlefs incidental adventures and hardfhips pe- 
culiar to war, I come to other Memoirs, which mufl forci- 
bly touch the paffions of every bofom, that is not callous 
to refleftion and tendernefs of feeling. 

The bufinefs of war is devaftation, rapine and murder. 
And in America, thefe brutal principles were never more 
horribly exemplified, than in this war. Hence the necef- 
fity of fcouting ; which was the common bufmefs of the 
infantry, to which our Heroine belonged. And fome 
time in June of this year, fhe, with two fergeants, requeued 
leave of their Captain to retaliate on the enemy, chiefly 
refugees and tories in New- York, for their outragious in- 
fults to the inhabitants beyond their lines. He replied — 
" You three dogs have contrived a plan this night to be 
killed, and I have no men to lofer He however confented ; 
and they beat for volunteers. Nearly all the company 
turned out; but only twenty were permitted to go.^^ — 
Near the clofe of the day they commenced their expedi- 
tion. They paffed a number of guards and went as far 
as Eaft-Chefter undifcovered ; where they lay in ambufli 
to watch the motions of thofe, who might be on the plun- 

67 The MS. memoir fays about thir- panics. Eaft Chefter is four miles 
ty were permitted to go, and that eaft of the Hudfon. Tories were nu- 
they belonged to three different com- merous thereabouts. 



i66 THE FEMALE 

dering bufinefs. They quickly difcovered that two parties 
had gone out ; and whilfl they were contriving how to 
entrap them, they difcovered two boys, who were fent for 
provifions to a private cellar in the wood. One of them 
informed, that a party had juft been at his mother's, and 
were then gone to vilit the Yankees, who were guarding 
the lines. Concealing from them, that they were Amer- 
icans, they accompanied them to the cellar, or rather a 
cave, which they found well ftored with provifion ; fuch 
as bacon, butter, cheefe, crouts, early fcrohons and jars 
of honey. They made a delicious repafl, filled their 
facks and informed the boys, they were Yankees ; upon 
which, the cave loudly rung with their cries. Dividing 
into two parties, they fet out centinels and again am- 
bullied in a place called, in Dutch, Vonhoite, 

About four in the morning, a large party, chiefly on 
horfeback and well armed, were faluted by one of the 
centinels ; which was no fooner done, than they returned 
a number of pifl:ol and fufee fhots at the flafli of his 
gun.^^ A fevere combat enfued. The Americans found 
horfes without riders : they had then light-horfe and foot. 



68 About two in the morning, ac- expelled foon to repair to the depot 

cording to the MS. memoir. The of provifions. The fentinel gave no- 

fentinel was ftationed by the party to tice by firing his gun ; upon which, 

which our heroine belonged, to give Deborah's party fired at the party of 

notice of the approach of the party refugees, kiUing feveral, and putting 

of refugees, who, according to the in- the others to flight, after a Ihort but 

formation obtained from the boy, were fevere ftruggle. 



REVIEW. 167 

Our Gallantress having previoufly become a good 
horfeman, immediately mounted an excellent horfe. They 
pursued the enemy till they came to a quagmire, as it ap- 
peared by their being put to a nonplus. They rufhed on 
them on the right and left, till as many as could, efcaped ; 
the reft begged quarters. The dauntlefs Fair, at this 
inftant, thought fhe felt fomething warmer than fweat run 
down her neck. Putting her hand to the place, fhe found 
the blood guflied from the left fide of her head very freely. 
She faid nothing ; as ftie thought it no time to tell of 
wounds, unlefs mortal. Coming to a ftand, flie difmount- 
ed, but had not ftrength to walk, or ftand alone. She 
found her boot on her right leg filled with blood ; ^^ and 
in her thigh, juft below her groin, flie found the incifion 
of a ball, whence it iffued. — Females ! this effufion was 
from the veins of your tender fex, in queft of that liberty, 
you now fo ferenely poffefs. 

She told one of the fergeants, flie was fo wounded, fhe 
chofe rather to be left in that horrid place, than be carried 
any further. They all, as one, concluded to carry her, in 
cafe flie could not ride. Here was her trial ! A thoufand 
thoughts and fpe6lres at once darted before her. She 
had always thought flie fliould rather die, than difclofe 
her fex to the army ! And at that inftant, almoft in de- 
fpair, fhe drew a piftol from a holfter, and was nearly 

69 The left leg, according to the author was not accurate in matters 
MS. memoir. This fhows that our of detail. 



i68 



THE FE MALE 



ready to execute the fatal deed. But divine goodnefs 
here flayed her hand : and the fliocking a6t and idea of 
fuicide were foon banifhed by her cooler reafon7° 



70 " I confidered this as a death- 
wound, or as being equivalent to it ; 
as it muft, I thought, lead to the dif- 
covery of my fex. Covered with 
blood from head to foot, I told my 
companions I feared I had received 
a mortal wound ; and I . begged them 
to leave me to die on the fpot ; pre- 
ferring to take the fmall chance I 
fliould in this cafe have of furvlving, 
rather than to be carried to the hof- 
pital. To this my comrades would 
not confent ; but one of them took me 
before him on his horfe, and in this 
painful manner I was borne fix miles 
to the hofpital of the French army, 
at a place called Croon Pond. On 
coming in fight of the hofpital, my 
heart again failed me. In a paroxyfm 
of defpair, I a6tually drew a piftol 
from the holfter, and was about to 
put an end to my own life. That I 
did not proceed to the fatal a6t, I can 
afcribe only to the interpofition of 
Divine Mercy. 

" The French furgeon, on my being 
brought in, inftantly came. He was 
alert, cheerful, humane. ' How you 
lofe fo much blood at dis early hour ? 
Be any bone broken ? ' was his firft 
falutation ; prefenting me and the 
other wounded men of our party with 
two bottles of choice wine. . . . My 
head having been bound up, and a 
change of clothing becoming a wound- 
ed foldier being ready, I was afked 



by the too inquifitive French furgeon 
whether I had any other wound. He 
had obferved my extreme palenefs, 
and that I limped in attempting to 
walk. I readily replied in the nega- 
tive : it was a plump falfehood ! ' Sit 
you down, my lad : your boot fay 
you tell fib ! ' faid the furgeon, no- 
ticing that the blood ftill oozed from 
it. He took off my boots and ftock- 
ings with his own hands with great 
tendernefs, and wafhed my leg to the 
knee. I then told him I would re- 
tire, change my clothing, and if any 
other wound fhould appear, I would 
inform him. 

" Meanwhile I had procured in 
the hofpital a filver probe a little 
curved at the end, a needle, fome 
lint, a bandage, and fome of the fame 
kind of falve that had been applied 
to the wound in my head. I found 
that the ball had penetrated my thigh 
about two inches, and the wound was 
llill moderately bleeding. The wine 
had revived me, and God, by his kind 
care, watched over me. At the third 
attempt, I extrafled the ball, which, 
as a facred rehc, I ilill poffefs.* 

"This operation over, the blood 
was ftanched, and my regimentals. 



* In the Report of the Committee of Congrefs, 
Jan. 31, 1837 (^^s Introdu(5tion, page xxi.), it is 
ftated that the ball was never extracfled, and 
"that the effed: of the wound continued through 
life, and probably haftened her death." 



REVIEW. 



169 



Having refled a little, being deftitute of any refrefli- 
ment, her wounds became exceffively painful ; but noth- 



ftiff enough with blood to Hand alone, 
had been exchanged for a loofe, thin 
wrapper, when I was again vifited by 
the furgeon. In his watchful eye I 
plainly read doubts. I told him that 
all was well; that I felt much re- 
vived, and wilhed to fleep. I had 
flept fcarcely an hour, when he again 
alarmed me. Approaching me on 
my mattrefs of ftraw, and holding my 
breeches in his hand, dripping from 
the wafh-tub, ' How came this rent ? ' 
faid he, putting his finger into it. I 
replied, ' It was occafioned, I believe, 
on horfeback, by a nail in the faddle 
or holfter. 'Tis of no confequence. 
Sleep refrefhes me : I had none laft 
night.' One-half of this, certainly, 
was true. But I had lefs dread of 
receiving half a dozen more balls than 
the penetrating glance of his eye. 
As I grew better, his fcrutiny dimin- 
ifhed. 

"Before the wound in my thigh 
was half healed, I rejoined the army 
on the lines. But had the moll hardy 
foldier been in the condition I was 
when I left the hofpital, he would 
have been excufed from military 
duty." — [MS. Memoir.] 

There is no doubt that fhe was 
wounded, as now related ; for it is 
ftated in her petition to the Legifla- 
ture, and in other authentic memori- 
als. But her petition and her decla- 
ration fay that fhe was wounded at 
Tarrytown, which place is not men- 



tioned in the foregoing account. This 
account locates the Ikirmish at or 
near Eaft Chefter, four or five miles 
eall of the Hudfon ; whereas Tarry- 
town is fituated on that river. The 
encounter with a party of Delancy's 
dragoons, related a few pages back, 
was therefore the occafion when flie 
was wounded ; and the " Female Re- 
view " is here, as in many other places, 
inaccurate. 

Mrs. Ellet fays, " She was a volun- 
teer in feveral hazardous enterprifes ; 
the firft time by a fword-cut on the 
left fide of the head." This mufi: 
have been in the cavalry encounter 
at Tarrytown. " About four months 
after her firft wound, fhe received 
another fevere one, being fhot through 
the Ihoulder. Her firft emotion when 
the ball entered fiie defcribed to be a 
fickening terror at the probability that 
her fex would be difcovered. She 
felt that death on the battle-field were 
preferable to the fliame that would 
overwhelm her, and ardently prayed 
that the wound might clofe her earth- 
ly campaign. 

" Many were the adventures ftie 
pafled through : as fiie herfelf would 
often fay, volumes might be filled 
with them. Sometimes placed un- 
avoidably in circumftances in which 
fhe feared deteflion, fhe neverthelefs 
efcaped all fufpicion. The foldiers 
were in the habit of calling her " Mol- 
ly," in playful allufion to her want of 



I70 THE FEMALE 

ing, we may judge, to the anguifhof her mind. Coming 
in view at length of the French encampment, near what 
was called Cron Pond, flie fays, it was to her like being 
carried reluftant to the place of execution. They were 
condu6led by the officer of the guards to an old hofpital, 
in which was a number of foldiers ; whofe very looks, 
flie fays, were enough to make a well man indifpofed, and 
the naufeous fmell, to infedl the moil pure air. The 
French furgeon foon came ; who, being informed of their 
circumflances, gave them two bottles of choice wine, and 
prepared to drefs their wounds. His mate, wafliing her 
head with rum, told her, he fuppofed it had not come to 
its feeling, as flie did not flinch. Judge, my readers, 
whether this was not the cafe, as her other wound fo 
much afifeded her heart ! She requefled the favor of more 
medicine than fhe needed for her head ; and taking an 
opportunity, with a penknife and needle, flie extra6led 
the ball from her thigh ; which, by that time, had doubt- 
lefs come to its feeling. 

They never rightly knew how many they killed or 
wounded. They took nine prifoners and feven horfes, 
and killed a number of others on the fpot. Of their 



a beard ; but not one of them ever mation " from a lady who knew her 
dreamed that the gallant youth fight- perfonally, and had often liftened with 
ing by their fide was in reality a fe- thrilling intereft to the animated de- 
male." — \_Women of ihe Re^fohitioji.'] fcription given by herfelf of her ex- 
Mrs. Ellet had never feen the "Fe- ploits and adventures." Yet fome of 
male Review," but received her infor- Mrs. Ellet's details are unreliable. 



>\, 



REVIEW. 171 

wounded was Rose, Stockbridge, Plummer and the in- 
vincible Fair. Diston was killed. 

After fuffering almofl every pain, but death, with in- 
credible fortitude,* fhe fo far healed her wound unbeknown 
to any, that flie again joined the army on the lines. But 
its imperfe6l cure, had it been known, would have been 
fufficient to exempt the moft hardy foldier from duty. 

In Augufl, on their march to the lines from Collabarack, 
fhe requefled to be left with a fick foldier, named Richard 
Snow ; moftly becaufe fhe was unable to do duty with 
the army, and partly out of compaffion for the poor ob- 
je6l, who was fick.^' But the fortune of war to her proved 
adverfe. The fears and diftrefs, that here awaited her, 
were far greater than thofe, when with the army. The 
old Dutchman, whofe name was Vantassel, with whom 
fhe was left, was not only a tory and entertained the ban- 
ditti, who plundered the Americans, but refufed them all 
kinds of fuccor. When flie begged a ftraw bed for the 
expiring foldier, he virulently exulted — " The floor is good 
enotigh for rebels r They were lodged in a dirty garret 
without windows ; where the heat rendered it ftill more 
infupportable. 

71 " About a fortnight after I re- the exercife of humanity to a diftreffed 

joined my company, I obtained per- comrade, but for the more fpeedy 

miffion to ftay and nurfe a fick foldier, cure of my wound, which the duties 

whofe name was Richard Snow, at a of the camp would not allow to be 

place called Collebarack. Opportu- perfedly healed." — {^MS. Mojioir.l 
nity was thus afforded not only for It never was perfedly healed. 



172 THE FEMALE 

One night, expedling to become a prey to the relent- 
lefs cruelty of the rabble, fhe charged both their pieces, 
refolving to facrifice the firfl, who might offer to molefl/'' 
She likewife made fail a rope near an opening in the 
garret, by which to make her efcape, in cafe they fhould 
be too many. Thus, fhe continued conflant to him, till 
almoft exhaulled for want of fleep and nourifliment. On 
the tenth night, he expired in great agonies, but in the 
exercife of his reafon, (of which he was before deprived) 
and much refigned to the will of God ; which may be a 
confolation to his furviving relatives. 

After Snow was dead, fhe rolled him in his blanket 
and fat at the avenue." She faw a party ride up to the 
houfe, and the old churl go out to congratulate them. 
They informed, the horfes they then had, with other 
plunder, were taken from the Americans. Whilfl the 
houfe was again infefted with their ungodly career, it is 
not in my power to defcribe her melancholy diflrefs in a 
dark garret with a corpfe. A multitude of cats fwarmed 
in the room ; and it was with difficulty fhe difabled fome 
with her cutlafs, and kept the reft from tearing the body 
to pieces. At length, flie heard footfteps on the ftairs. 
Her heart fluttered ; but her heroifm had not forfaken 

72 " The rabble " means the Tories, ity. " Both their pieces," — her gun 

who reforted to the houfe, and were and the fick foldier's. 

at the time in the lower part of the 73 "After Snow was dead, I wrapped 

houfe, reveUing in the fpoil they had him in his blanket, and featedmyfelf at 

taken from honeft people in the vicin- the open window to inhale frefh air." 



REVIEW. 



173 



her. Haflening to the door, flie put her hanger in a po- 
fition to diflocate the Hmbs of any who fhould enter. 
But the voice of a female, who fpoke to her in EngHfh, 
allayed her fear. It was Vantassel's daughter, who 
feemed poffeffed of humanity, and who had before often 
alleviated her diflrefs. 

At day-break, fhe left the garret; but finding the 
outer doors bolted, flie was returning, when flie again 
met the young female, who bid her good morning, and 
faid — " If you pleafe, Sir, walk into my chamber." She 
followed ; and feating themfelves by a window, they re- 
galed themfelves with a glafs of wine and a beautiful, 
ferene air. After entreating her agreeable guefl not to 
let the ill treatment fhe had received from her father 
make her forfake the houfe, fhe bordered on fubjefts that 
might have enraptured the other fex.^^ — Summoned at 
this inftant by her mother, they withdrew. 

Our Heroine, with the affiftance of two others, buried 
the dead ; then fat out to join her company. She ac- 
quainted the Captain of the toryifm of Vantassel, of his 
treatment of her, and thought it beft to furprife him. 
The affair was fubmitted to her management. She fre- 
quented the houfe ; and having learned that a gang was 
to be there at fuch a time, fhe took command of a party 

74 Inftead of the claufe, "fhe bor- houfe, and his country too, unlefs he 

dered on fubjecls," &c., the MS. me- changed his courfe. She fpoke ftrong- 

moir has, " I replied that her father ly againft her father's toryifm, from 

would foon be obliged to leave his which fhe herfelf had often fuffered." 



174 THE FEMALE 

and found them in their ufual reverie/^ Some thought 
beft to rufh immediately upon them ; but fhe deemed it 
more prudent to wait till their intoxicated brains fhould 
render them lefs capable of refinance. At midnight, fhe 
unbolted the ftable doors, when they poffeffed themfelves 
of the horfes ; then rallied the houfe. They came out 
with confternation ; which was increafed when they were 
told, they were dead men, if they did not yield themfelves 
prifoner'^' of war. They conveyed them to their company 
as fuch^^ The Captain enquired, of the gallant Com- 
mander, the method of capturing them ; which flie de- 
tailed. He gave her a bottle of good fpirits, and told her 
to treat her men. This done, fhe requefted, that the 
prifoners might fare in like manner. The Captain faid — 
" Will you treat men, who would be glad to murder us V' 
But fhe pleading the caufe of humanity, he gave her 
another bottle. Unlofmg the hands of a fergeant, he 
drank but in making them faft again, he afted on the 
defenfive, and flruck her to the ground. She arofe, when 
he made a fecond attempt; but flie warded the blow. 
His compeers chided him for his folly, as they had been 
well ufed. He vented many bitter oaths ; alledging, fhe 
had not only taken him prifoner, but had caufed his girl 
(meaning Vantassel's daughter) to pay that attention to 

75 For "reverie" read "revelry." heroine's party captured fifteen To- 
The meaning is, the tories were riot- ries and nine horfes, and brought 
ing on the plunder they had taken. them fafely to camp. The MS. me- 

76 Without fhedding any blood, our moir fpreads this aifair over fix pages. 



REVIEW. 175 

her, fhe once beflowed on him. He, however, received 
fifty ffcripes on the naked back for his infolence ; then 
was fent to Head Quarters, and after trial, to the Provofl, 
with the refl at Weil Point. 

The beginning of Autumn, fhe, with Lieut. Brown and 
others, had a boifterous cruife down the Hudfon to Al- 
bany on bufinefs ; ^^ foon after, a fcouting tour into the 
Jerfies; and flie was with the armies on the 19th of 
06tober in their grand Difplay at Virplank's Point.^^ I 
only inftance thefe, as parties of pleafure and a day of 
jubilee, when compared with the rougher events of war.^^ 

We come now to the firfl of December, when flie and 
a party were furprifed by a party of Dutch cavalry from 
an ambufcade and drove with impetuofity to Croton 
Ferry ; where their only alternative was that of fording 
it, or of Hiking their lives with the affailants : each of 

77 They could not go " down the ries, an employment in which our he- 
Hudfon" from Weft Point to Albany, roine delighted. She confidered them, 

78 "About the middle of Septem- as they really were, by far the worft 
ber, there was a grand difplay of the enemies of the country. Never did 
army at King's Ferry, on account of a hunter in purfuit of game, with the 
the return of Count Rochambeau pack in full cry, feel better than did 
from the South." — \^MS. Memoir. '\ flie when in purfuit of Tories. She 
This review is noticed by Dr. Thach- fays, " I loved to watch by thefe To- 
er in his " Military Journal." It was ries, and to fteal away their dreams, 
on the 14th of September, 1782. As And yet in no part of my military ca- 
ufual, the compiler of the MS. me- reer have I been more expofed to 
moir borrows fome of Thacher's ex- danger. On this occafion we had lit- 
preffions. tie fuccefs, thefe freebooters having 

79 On the former of thefe occafions, moftly taken refuge within the Britifh 
the fcouting-party, or raid, as it would lines." This expedition was chiefly 
now be called, went out to capture To- in New Jerfey, 



176 



THE FE MALE 



which feemed to the lafl degree dangerous. Without 
time for hefitation, compelling a Dutchman to pilot them 
on the bar, they entered the watery element ; and, by the 
affiflance of that Being, who is faid to have conduced 
the Ifraelites through the Red Sea, they reached the 
other fhore.^° 

They went to the houfe of the Widow Hunt ; who, 
under pretentions of friendfhip, fent black George for re- 
frefliment^' But our Heroine, more acquainted with the 
cunning of her fex, advifed them not to adhere to her 
fmoothnefs of fpeech. Accordingly, they went back to 
the ferry ; and they can beft defcribe the wretchednefs of 
their fituation during a cold winter night. In the morn- 
ing, though the river was frozen, they determined to re- 
crofs it; left the enemy fhould drive them to a worfe 
extremity. Before they had two thirds croffed, the 



80 " In the fecond of thefe expedi- 
tions, about the ill of December," 
fays the MS. memoir, — though it 
could not have been later than early 
in November, — " we fell into an am- 
bufcade formed by the enemy's cav- 
alry. Endeavoring to efcape, we had 
no alternative but to ford Croton 
River, or rifk an engagement with 
treble our number. We chofe to ford 
the river ; and, compelling a Dutch- 
man to condu6t us to a place where 
the water was but breaft high, we 
reached the oppofite fhore in fafety." 
Our heroine's party were on foot. 



81 "We went to the houfe of a 
Widow Hunt, who proved to be a 
defperate female Tory. She fent her 
flave, black George, oflenfibly for re- 
frefhments, but really to give infor- 
mation to the enemy, the party whom 
we had jull efcaped. During that 
cold winter night, we were without 
fhelter, and my wound not yet per- 
feaiy healed." They had juft forded 
the river. Of courfe, their clothes 
were drenched with the water, which 
froze upon them. " Before we had 
recroffed the river, a large body of 
the enemy appeared in purfuit," etc. 



REVIEW. 177 

ftrength of our young Female was fo exhaufted, that 
the brifknefs of the flream, which was in height to her 
chin, carried her off the bar ; when it was concluded, fhe 
was for ever ingulphed in a watery tomb. As fhe rofe, 
fummoning the lafl exertions of nature, fhe got hold of a 
firing, which they buoyed to her ; and thus, providentially, 
regained the bar and fhore. Frozen and languid as they 
then were, they reached a ftore ; where not being well 
ufed, they burft in the head of a brandy cafk, drank their 
fill, gave a fhoe full to the negro of the widow, whom they 
had before taken ; then left him in a better fituation than 
he faid, his miflrefs meant to have left them. She ren- 
dezvoufed with her company at Pixhill Hollow.^^ ^ 

Soon after the army retired to Winter Quarters at 
New Windfor, the clarion of war was again founded for a 
reinforcement to affifl Gen. Schuyler in fubduing the 
Indians on the frontiers, on to Saratoga.^^ The officers 
chofe to form their detachment of volunteers ; as the 
foldiers were worn down with the hardfhips of war. 
Heavens ! what will not refolution and perfeverance fur- 
mount, even in the fair fex ! — Our Heroine offered her 

82 This Ihould be, as in the MS. vicinity of New Windfor, on the weft 
memoir, " Peeklkill Hollow." This of the Hudfon, where they were to 
was a noted military poft on the Hud- ere6l log-huts for winter-quarters, on 
fon in the Revolutionary War. the 28th of 06lober. Dr. Thacher 

83 According to Thacher's " Mill- makes no mention of this Indian ex- 
tary Journal," the left wing of the ar- pedition, though he is careful to note 
my, under Gen. Heath, after a march all paffmg occurrences, and even the 
from Verplanck's Point, reached the news from a diftance. 

23 



178 



THE FE MALE 



fervice; though an inflammation of her wound would 
have deterred a veteran : it being an open fore a few days 
before flie croffed the river.^^ 



84 This winter expedition to tlie 
Indian country, is, in the MS. me- 
moir, expanded into twenty-eight 
pages, which we will now materially 
abridge. 

Soon after the army retired to win- 
ter quarters, and therefore in Novem- 
ber, 1782, a large detachment was 
ordered to proceed to the head-waters 
of the Hudfon, to reprefs the incur- 
fions which the Indians were making 
on the white fettlements. Our hero- 
ine, though not yet fully recovered 
from her wound, volunteered to go. 
They marched on the banks of the 
Hudfon, and vifited Fort Edward, 
Fort George, and Ticonderoga. At 
Fort Edward they found Gen. Schuy- 
ler, on whom the compiler of the MS. 
memoir beftows two pages of panegy- 
ric. Lake George, with the fcenery 
around, alfo Ticonderoga and Crown 
Point, are defcribed, occupying three 
or four pages. 

From Ticonderoga the party ftruck 
off to the weft. The weather had 
hitherto been fine, though cold, with 
little or no fnow on the ground. But 
now they encountered a fevere fnow- 
ftorm, and marched through fnow a 
foot deep ; not " three feet deep," as 
fays the " Female Review." Near the 
place now known as Johnsburgh, in 
Warren County, they had an encoun- 
ter with a party of about a hundred 
Indians, who had juft been murder- 



ing white families, and burning their 
houfes. Thefe Indians fought defpe- 
rately, but were overpowered, and put 
to flight. 

" We came upon the Indians unex- 
pe6ledly, at the diftance of a piftol- 
fhot ; and our firft fire dealt terrible 
deftru6lion among them. Raifing 
their horrid war-whoop, they returned 
our fire. . . . Three of our party were 
wounded, but not mortally. Fifteen 
of the Indians were flain, and many 
more were wounded. Numbers of 
the enemy eluded our fliots, and made 
their efcape into the woods. Obferv- 
ing one man, light of foot, entering 
the foreft, I happened to be foremoft 
in purfuit of him. I had fcarcely 
come up with him, when he cried for 
quarter. My firft impulfe was to 
bayonet him ; but an inftant fympathy 
turned away the pointed fteel. My 
next thought was, that his imper- 
fe(5l Indian diale<5l was counterfeit. 
Thrufting my hand into his bofom, 
and making a wide rent in his inner 
garment, I difcovered that he was the 
child of white parents, while his face, 
and his heart too, were as black as 
thofe of any favage. 

" The fliades of evening were now 
fettling down about us. Returning 
with our captive white Indian to the 
general flaughter-ground, a fcene of 
indefcribable horror prefented itfelf 
to our view. The flames had levelled 



REVIEW. 



179 



Their marches were over the ruins of Indian barbarity. 
On their return, they flanked into parties, and took differ- 
ent routs through the wildernefs. She was in a party 
commanded by Capt. Mills. Not far from Bradport, an 



the houfe [of the man whom they 
faw fleeing for his life] nearly to the 
earth. The mother lay dead and 
horribly mangled a few feet from the 
threfhold. Two children were hung 
by their heels upon a tree," &c. 
" While this was going on, a fine lit- 
tle girl was difcovered by her piteous 
plaints. She had concealed herfelf 
under fome ftraw. She was brought 
forth, not only ftiff with the cold, but 
having a bad wound in the fhoulder 
from a tomahawk. At fight of her, 
the wretched father funk down upon 
the fnow, as if never again to rife, 
exhaufted by the lofs of blood from 
his own wound, as well as by the 
fcene that furrounded him. . . . 

"We now retraced our courfe to 
Fort Edward, frequently tinging the 
fnow and ice with our own blood. 
Our fiioes were worn through, and 
our clothing torn by the thick under- 
growth of the forefi;." 

Here two pages are devoted to the 
tragic fi:ory of Jane McCrea, mur- 
dered by the Indians, on the advance 
of Burgoyne's army, in Auguft, 1777. 
Six pages are then occupied with a 
brief refiwie of the Northern cam- 
paign of 1777, efpecially the battle of 
Bemis's Heights, on the 7th of O6I0- 
ber ; taken from Thacher's " Mihtary 
Journal " and other hiftories. 



At Albany, the MS. memoir affirms 
that fhe was fent for by Gen. Schuyler 
to vifit him at his refidence, and com- 
plimented for her diftinguifhed bra- 
very in the Indian expedition. Six 
or feven pages are given to this inter- 
view, and to the converfation which 
is faid to have there taken place. 
One of Gen. Schuyler's daughters, 
recently married to Col. Alex. Ham- 
ilton, is introduced as detailing to our 
heroine the friendly reception given 
by the family to Gens. Burgoyne, 
Philips, Reidefel, the Baronefs Rei- 
defel. Lady Acland, and their chil- 
dren, after the furrender at Saratoga, 
including what was faid and done on 
that occafion. Credat JiidcEUs ! 

"About the laft of January, 1783, 
we reached the winter-cantonments 
of the army on the Hudfon, having 
feen hard fervice, but without hav- 
ing loft a man. Scarcely had I taken 
a night's repofe in camp before the 
expreffions hero, champion, vi6lor, ap- 
plied to myfelf, ran currently through 
my regiment. I have fince thought 
it wonderful that I was not inflated 
with pride, which fometimes hfts one 
above himfelf into the airy region of 
fools." Not Deborah Sampfon, but 
Mr. Mann, the compiler of the MS. 
memoir, is refponfible for this lan- 
guage and the preceding ftatements. 



i8o THE FEMALE 

Englifh fettlement, the fnow having fallen three feet deep, 
they faw a man fleeing for his life. On enquiry, he in- 
formed, that the Indians had furrounded his houfe, and 
were then in the heat of their butchery. Haftening with 
him to the place, they found the infernals had not finifhed 
their hellifh facrafices. The houfe was on fire, his wife 
mangled and lay bleeding on the threfliold. Two chil- 
dren were hung by their heels ; one fcalped, and yet alive ; 
the other dead, with a tamahawk in its brains. They 
took them. — Females, have fortitude. The dauntlefs of 
your fex thrufl her hand into the bofom of one, and rent 
his veflure. The eife6l was the difcovery of his being of 
the complexion of an Englifhman, except where he was 
painted. They fent him to Head Quarters ; but executed 
the reft on the fpot. 

Bepore they reached the army, their feet once more 
crimfoned the fnow — a token of their fufiferings. But her 
name refounded with plaudits ; which would have been 
enhanced, had the difcovery of her fex then taken place* 



REVIEW. i8i 



CHAP. IX. 

She goes to live in a General Officer's family, — Mif ^- 
laneous incidents, — Marches with 1 500 men for the fup- 
prefjion of a mutiny among the American foldiers at 
Philadelphia, — Has a violent ficknefs and is carried to 
the hofpital in this city, — Discovery of Sex. — A young 
Lady conceives an attachment for our blooming sol- 
dier. 

IN the Spring of 1783, peace began to be the general 
topic ; and which was aftually announced to Congrefs. 
A building was eredled ; in which the officers held their 
concerts. It would contain a brigade at a time for the 
exercife of public worfhip. The timber was cut and 
drawn together by the foldiers, and moftly fawn by hand. 
Our Heroine worked againfl any hardy foldier, without 
any advantage in her yoke. In its raifmg, a joifl fell 
and carried her from a confiderable height to the ground ; 
but without doing any effential injury, except the diflo- 
cation of her nofe and ancle.^^ 

On the firfl: of April, Gen. Patterson felefted her for 
his Waiter ; as he had previoufly become acquainted with 
her heroifm and fidelity.^^ Ceffation of hoftilities was 

8s There is no reference in the MS. ed waiter, or, as the more courtly 

memoir to any thing of this fort. phrafe is, aide-de-camp, to my much- 

86 " Dire^^ly after our return to efteemed general, Patterfon, and taken 

headquarters, I found myfelf appoint- into his family. This was in confe- 



l82 



THE FE MALE 



proclaimed on the i9th.^7 The honorary badge of dif- 
tin6lion, as eflabliflied by Gen. Washington, had been 
conferred on her ; but for what particular exploit, I can- 
not fay. Her bufinefs was here much lefs intenfe ; and 
fhe found a fuperior fchool for improvement. 

The General's attachment towards his new attendant 



quence of the illnefs of Major Hafkell, 
who had ferved as his aide." 

Dr. Thacher fpeaks of Major Haf- 
kell as being aide-de-camp to Gen. 
Patterfon, and fays he was a native 
of Rocheller, Mafs. It is not very 
probable that Robert Shurtliffe Ihould 
have been taken from the ranks, or 
from the pofition of fergeant, which 
fhe is faid to have held, to be aide- 
de-camp to a general officer. 

" I was furnifhed with a good horfe 
and fine equipments, and found my- 
felf furrounded with the comforts, and 
even the elegancies, of life. I no 
longer flept on a pallet of flraw on the 
damp, cold ground, but on a good 
feather-bed. And here, I prefume, 
curiofity will be awake to inquire 
whether I always flept alone j and if 
not, with whom, and on what terms. 
I will tell the truth frankly, and chal- 
lenge contradi6tion. In the firfl place, 
a foldier has not always his choice of 
lodgings or of bed-fellows. He often 
lies down in promifcuous repofe with 
his companions, without other parti- 
tion than his blanket, his knapfack, 
and his mufket. 

" But, in Gen. Patterfon's family, my 
couch invited to foft, undifturbed re- 



pofe, fuch as I actually enjoyed. My 
bed-companions were, fometimes one 
officer, and fometimes another. But 
no one was inferior to myfelf, either 
in rank or in virtuous principle, to 
fay the leafl and the worfl of them. 
They as little fufpe6led my fex, as I 
fufpe6led them of a difpofition to vio- 
late its chaflity, had I been willing to 
expofe myfelf to them, and to a<5l the 
wanton. If this explanation is not 
fatisfaftory, if any flill imagine that 
in my fituation nothing fhort of a con- 
tinued miracle could have kept me 
unpolluted, I muft content myfelf 
with the inward fatisfa6tion which 
confcious purity and virtue always 
afford, leaving them to fbruggle as 
they may with their doubts on the 
fubjea." 

There is reafon to believe that all 
the while fhe flept alone. 

87 The Preliminary Treaty of Peace 
was figned at Paris, Nov. 30, 1782, 
but not publifhed by royal proclama- 
tion in London till Feb. 15, 1783. 
The ceffation of hofbilities was pro- 
claimed in the American camp, by 
order of Gen. Wafhington, on the 
eighth anniverfary of the battle of 
Lexington. 



REVIEW. 183 

was daily increafing. Her martial deportment, blended 
with the milder graces and vivacity of her fex and youth, 
filled him with admiration and wonder. Anxious to avail 
himfelf of every advantage to infpire his troops with 
emulation in the caufe of their country ; it is faid, perhaps 
juftly, that when he faw a delinquency or faint-hearted- 
nefs in his men, he often referred them to fome heroic 
achievement of his fmockfaced boy, or convinced them 
by an ocular example.^^ 

Knowing flie had his commendations, fhe found new 
ftimulations for perfeverance. And fcarcely any injunc- 
tions would have been too fevere for her compliance. 
Hence it feems, he was led to conceive that fuch an 
affemblage of courage and refinement could exift but in 
the fuperior order of his fex ; and that fuch a youth was 
highly calculated to fhine either in the fphere of war, or 
in the profeffion of a gentleman of tafte and philofophic 
refinement. 

Thus, Females, whilit you fee the avidity of a maid in 
her teens confronting dangers and made a veteran ex- 
ample in war, you need only half the affiduity in your 
proper, domejlic fphere, to render your charms completely 
irrefiflible. 

General orders were, every warm feafon, for the fol- 
diers to go into the water, as well to exercife themfelves 

88 Here belongs the ftory related in from Weft Point to " a place called 
the Appendix, refpe6ting her journey the Clove." 



i84 THE FEMALE 

in the art of fwimming, as to clean their bodies.^^ Thefe 
injunflions were fo dire6lly in point, that her compliance 
with them would unavoidably have been unbofoming the 
delicate fecret. To have pled indifpofition would have 
been an argument againft her; as the cold bath might 
have wrought her cure : and to have intimated cowardice, 
would have entitled her to lefs lenity, than when before 
in the Ferry. So, after lying awake the firfl night, fhe 
concluded to be the firll to rife at roll-call. Accordingly, 
the regiment paraded and marched to the river. She 
was expert in undreffing with the refl. After they were 
mollly in the water, what fhould ravifh her ear but the 
found of a fweet fountain, that percolated over a high 
rock near the river's brink. It was thickly enclofed with 
the afpen and alder. Thither flie unnoticed retired. And 
whilfl the Hudfon fwelled with the multitude of mafcu- 
line bodies, a beautiful rivulet anfwered every purpofe of 
bathing a more delicate form. Nor were there any old, 
letcherous, fan6lified Elders to peep through the ruftling 
leaves to be inflamed with her charms. 

One more incident may amufe thofe ladies, who are 
fond of angling.^° — One day, fhe, with fome others, at the 
ebb of tide, went to the Hudfon for this purpofe. Near 
the boat, fhe difcovered a beautiful azure rock, well 
fituated for fifliing. Too carelefs of her famed prede- 

89 This account is omitted in the 90 This unlikely ftory is alfo omit- 
MS. memoir It is wholly improbable, ted in the MS. memoir. 



REVIEW. 185 

ceffor s difpofition, fhe difembarked from the boat to the 
rock. Soon after, they purpofely weighed anchor and 
left her furrounded with water. She continued not long, 
before, to her furprife, as well as the reft, the rock became 
a felf-moving vehicle, and fat out to overtake her com- 
pany. Dreading the paffage, fhe leaped into the water 
and mire, and had many fevere flruggles before fhe 
reached land. The rock proved a prodigious Tortoife. 
And left antiquity fliould not be cured of credulity and 
fuperftition, thereby enhance the prodigy to their genera- 
tion — that a female was once a navigator on the back of 
a Tortoife, that he finally fwallowed her and fome time 
after, fpouted her alive on the fertile land ; — it is only 
needful to mention, that they gaffed him, with much 
difficulty, towed him reluftant to the Ihore, and foon after, 
on a day of feftival, ate him. 

This Summer a detachment of 1500 men was ordered 
to march to Philadelphia for the fuppreffion of a mutiny 
among the American foldiers.^' ^She did not go till four 

91 At the clofe of the war, it was were held by the feveral States, which 
found extremely difficult, and indeed were flow to exercife them when 
impoffible, to pay off the foldiers of they were likely to bear hard upon 
the Continental army. The United the people. Congrefs had reforted to 
States were a nation ; but there was loans ; immenfe quantities of paper- 
no national government, — only a money had been iiTued during the 
confederation. Congrefs did not pof- war, but the Continental currency 
fefs the power of taxation ; and no had depreciated rapidly, till, in the 
means exifted for raifmg a revenue latter part of 1780, it became worth- 
for national purpofes. The powers lefs, and ceafed to circulate. There 
of government, fo far as any exifted, were therefore no funds, at the clofe 
24 



86 



THE FE MALE 



days after the General left Weft Point. She then rode 
in company with four gentlemen, and had a richly varie- 
gated profped through the Jerfies and a part of Pennfyl- 
vania. In Gofhen they were invited to a ball ; where fhe 
was pleafed to fee, efpecially in the ladies, the brilliancy 
and politenefs of thofe in New England. They were 
here detained two days on account of Lieut. Stone, who 
was confined for a duel with Capt. Hitchcock, who was 
killed.^^ She found the troops encamped on a hill ; from 
which, they had a fine profpe6l of the city and of the 



of the war, to pay the troops.'* The 
greater part of them bore the evil 
with commendable patience, fubmit- 
ting to it as a matter of unavoidable 
neceffity. In many cafes, however, 
there was difcontent, and, in a few 
cafes, as here, open mutiny. 

A fmall body of Pennfylvania 
troops — Thacher fays about eighty 
— encamped at Lancafter, in that 
State, in the month of June, 1783, 
clamored for their pay, rofe in revolt, 
and marched to Philadelphia, fixty- 
feven miles diftant, determined to 
enforce their claim upon Congrefs 
at the point of the bayonet. Arriving 
in that city on the 29th of that month, 
they proceeded to the barracks ; and 
being joined by two hundred troops 
from Carolina, and obtaining artillery, 
they marched, with drums beating, 
to the State Houfe, where Congrefs 
was then affembled. Placing guards 
at every door, they fent in a meffage, 
accompanied with a threat, that, if 



their demands were not complied with 
in twenty minutes, they would pro- 
ceed to open violence. 

The members of Congrefs fucceed- 
ed, however, in making their efcape, 
and fent information of the affair to 
Gen. Wafhington, who immediately 
ordered a detachment of troops on 
whom he could rely, fifteen hundred 
ftrong, under the command of Major- 
Gen. Robert Howe, to proceed to Phil- 
adelphia, and to fupprefs the mutiny. 
This affair gave occafion for our her- 
oine to vifit Philadelphia. Happily, 
the infurgents fubmitted at once. 
Some of the ringleaders were tried 
and fentenced, two to fuffer death, 
and four to other punifliment. But 
Congrefs pardoned them all. Dr. 
Thacher notices this affair. He fays, 
" On the 29th of June, about eighty 
new-levy foldiers of the Pennfylvania 
line marched to Philadelphia," &c. 

92 The duel took place at Gofhen. 
Very Hkely, it originated in that ball- 



REVIEW. 187 

Allegany, which rifes majeftic over the Intervening 
country. Here llie had frequent occafion to vifit the 
city, fometimes on bufinefs, and often curiofity led her to 
view its magnificence. The gentility of her drefs and 
agreeable mien gained her accefs to company of both 
fexes of rank and elegance. 

The florm of war having fubfided, an agreeable prof- 
peft once more gleamed on the face of Columbia* But 
fortune had more dangers and toils affigned her. An 
epidemic diforder raged in the city : and fhe was quickly 
felefted a viftim, and carried once more to the hofpital 
with all the horrible apprehenfions of her fituation.'^^ 
Death itfelf could fcarcely have prefented a more gloomy 
profped : and that feemed not far diftant ; as multitudes 
were daily carried to the Potter s Field. She begged not 
to be left in the loathfome bunks of foldiers. Accordingly, 
fhe was lodged in a third loft, where were two other 
officers of the fame line, who foon died. Alone flie was 
then left to condole her wretchednefs ; except Doftor 



room. " We left Hitchcock, who had All I diflin6lly remember was the 

been a good officer, dead upon the profpe6t of death, which feemed not 

field, and Stone in prifon. This de- far diftant. I was thrown into a 

tained us two days." loathfome bunk, out of which had 

93 " A malignant fever was then juft been removed a corpfe for burial ; 

raging in Philadelphia, particularly foon after which, I became utterly in- 

among the troops ftationed there and fenfible." — {MS. Me7noir.'\ 

in the vicinity. I was foon feized Would the authorities of the hofpi- 

with it. I fcarcely felt its fymptoms tal have treated in this manner an 

before I was carried to tlie hofpital. aide-de-camp of Gen. Patterfon ? 



i88 THE FEMALE 

Bana^'^ and the Matron, Mrs. Parker, whofe folicitude flie 
remembers with gratitude. 

How poignantly mufl reflexion have here brought to 
her memory thofe foft and tranquil feafons, wherein flie 
fo often deprived herfelf the midfummer's morning dream, 
to breathe with the lark the frefh incenfe of morning! — 
when with hafty fteps flie bruflied the dews from vegeta- 
tion, to meet the fun on the rifmg grounds : by which, to 
catch frefli hints of creation, and to inhale thee, buxom 
HEALTH, from every opening flower ! But flie is now, not 
indeed, like Egyptian mummies, wrapped in fine linen 
and laid on beds of fpices, but on the naked floor, antici- 
pating the Archer, Death, in all the frightful forms of his 
equipage. 

But at length, flie was deprived of the faculty of reflec- 
tion. The Archer was about to execute his laft oflice. 
The inhuman fextons had drawn their allowance, and upon 
her vefture they were cafting lots. One Jones, the only 
Englifh nurfe, at that inftant coming in, flie once more 
rallied the fmall remains of nature and gave flgns of life. 
The fextons withdrew, and Jones informed the Matron 
fuch a one was yet alive ; which flie difcredited.^^ Doc- 

94 Dr. Binney, the furgeon of the I perceived preparations making for 
hofpital, is here intended. Dr. Thach- my burial. I heard the funeral-under- 
er mentions that he dined in Phila- takers quarrelKng about fome part of 
delphia, Sept. 9, 1782, with " Do6lor my clothing, which each of them 
Binney of the hofpital." wifhed to polTefs. One Jones, the 

95 " It was not long 'before I came only Englifli-fpeaking nurfe in the 
to fome degree of confcioufnefs, when hofpital, coming in, I fucceeded, by 



REVIEW. 



189 



tor Bana at that inftant entered ; and putting his hand in 
her bofom to feel her pulfe, was furprifed to find an inner 
waifl-coat tightly compreffing her breafts. Ripping it in 
hafle, he was flill more fhocked, not only on finding life, 
but the breafts and other tokens of a femalej'^ Immedi- 
ately fhe was removed into the Matron's own apartment ; 
and from that time to her recovery, treated with all the 
care, that art and expenfe could beflow.^^ 



an almolt fuperhuman effort, in con- 
vincing him that I was ftill alive. I 
well remember that he not only threat- 
ened thefe monfters, but ufed a6lual 
force to prevent their dragging me to 
the Potter's Field, the place of burial 
for flrangers. The undertakers at 
length withdrew, when Jones informed 
the worthy matron, Mrs. Parker, that 
Robert Shurtliife, a foldier in bunk 
No. — , who had been fuppofed to be 
dead, was aftually alive. This fhe 
was inclined to doubt. It was faid 
that they came to afcertain the fa6t. 
But I knew it not; for I had funk 
once more into a ftate refembling 
death." — [J/^*. Memoir ?\^ 

96 "They had fcarcely retired a 
fecond time, when Dr. Binney, the 
furgeon, vifited the hofpital, to whom 
Jones made known the fa6l of my 
partial re-animation. He immediate- 
ly came to my apartment, and called 
me by name. Though I diftin6lly 
heard him, I could make no reply. 
He turned away for a moment to 
fome other patients. I thought he 
had left me again to the ravenous 



undertakers. By a great effort, I 
made a kind of gurghng in my throat 
to call his attention to me. Never 
can I forget his elaftic ftep, and ap- 
parently deep emotion, as he fprang 
to my bed-fide. Thrufling his hand 
into my bofom to afcertain if there 
were motion at the heart, he was fur- 
prifed at finding an inner veil tightly 
compreffmg my breafts, the inftant 
removal of which not only afcertained 
the faa of life, but difclofed the faft 
that I was a woman J He forced, by 
fome inftrument, a medicine into my 
ftomach, which greatly revived me, 
and caufed me to exhibit further ligns 
of life." — [/^/^.] 

97 This remarkable difcovery the 
benevolent furgeon imparted to none 
but Mrs. Parker, the matron of the 
hofpital, -charging her to confine the 
knowledge of it to her own bofom. 
Our heroine was, after being con- 
veyed to Mrs. Parker's apartment, 
nurfed with the greateft care. She 
now flowly recovered ; and, as foon 
as fhe was able to ride, fhe was taken 
to Dr. Binney's houfe, and treated 



190 



TH E FE MALE 



The amiable Phyfician had the prudence to conceal 
this important difcovery from every breaft but the Ma- 
tron. From that tirne, the once more difcovered female 
became a welcome guefl in their families. And they re- 
commended her to others, as an obje(5l worthy their at- 
tention and affeftion. — But there remains another event, 
perhaps, the mofl unparalleled of its kind, to be unfolded. 

A YOUNG lady of the fuburbs of Baltimore, beautiful in 
form, bleft with a well cultivated mind, and a fortune, had 
often converfed with this illuftrious foldier,'^'^ The grace- 
fulnefs of her mien, mixed with her dignified, martial 



with the moft dehcate attention. As 
her recovery proceeded, fhe began to 
fufpe6l that a difcovery had been 
made, to her moft unwelcome. She 
could account in no other way for the 
tendernefs with which fhe was treat- 
ed. Her kind friends, Mrs. Parker 
and Dr. Binney, were careful to con- 
ceal from her the knowledge they had 
acquired ; but it was evident to her 
mind that they did not expe(5t that 
fhe would refume her military attire. 

" But in this," fays Deborah, "they 
were miflaken ; and fo was I mifta- 
ken in the ufe which I prefumed 
would be made of the difcovery of my 
fex. Emaciated and pallid, I was in- 
troduced by the good Dr. Binney to 
his wife and daughters as a young 
and gallant foldier who had met in 
battle the enemies of our country, and 
had now rifen, as it were, from the 
bed of death. This introdu6lion was 



fuificient to commend me to their 
warmeft fympathies. In their com- 
pany, I rambled through the flreets 
of the city, attended public exhibi- 
tions, failed upon the Delaware, and 
ftrolled in the groves and flowery 
meads. The Doctor had no fears of 
the refult. I was admitted as a guefl 
in many wealthy families ; flill known 
only as a Continental foldier." — [/<^.] 
98 This love-ftory is told in the 
MS. memoir with confiderable varia- 
tion. It is there faid that the young 
lady, the writer of the enfuing letter, 
was feventeen years of age, the daugh- 
ter of wealthy parents in Baltimore, 
and now an orphan ; that the acquaint- 
ance commenced in September, 1781, 
during the flay of the American army 
at Annapolis when on its way to York- 
town, and that they became mutually 
and tenderly attached. The letter in 
the MS. memoir is better written. 



REVIEW. ^ 191 

airs, enraptured her. At firft, jQie attempted to check the 
impulfe, as the e£fe6l of a giddy paffion ; but at length, 
fuffered it to play about her heart unchided. Cupid, im- 
patient, at length, urged his quiver too far, and wounded 
the feat of love. — O Love ! how powerful is your influ- 
ence ! how unlimited your domain ! The gallant Solo- 
mon could not have compofed three thoufand proverbs 
and his madrigals to his love, without much of your con- 
viviality. The illuminations of Venus were known in 
thofe days. And it was by her rays, the Preacher of love 
fo often ftrolled with his Egyptian belles in his vineyard, 
when the flowers appeared on the earth, the mandrakes 
gave a good fmell, and the time of the fmging of birds 
had come ; when they reciprocated their love amidft the 
dews of dawn. 

Sufficient it is, that this love is preferved, and that it 
will remain incontrovertible. And happy it is, that it is 
not only enjoyed by the prince of the inner pavillion. It 
leaps upon the mountains ; and, under the fliadow of the 
apple-tree, it is fweet to the tafle. From the mofs-covered 
cottage, it is purfued, even amidft the thunders of war 
and the diftra6lion of elements. And the nymph of 
Maryland was as much entitled to it, as the miftrefs of 
him, who had the careffmg of a thoufand. Hers was 
fentimental and eftabliflied : and fhe was miferable from 
the thought, that it might not be interchangeable. 

On this account, the prgdudions of her plantation 



192 THE FEMALE 

were no longer reliflied with pleafure. The mufic of her 
groves became diffonant, her grottos too folitary, and the 
rivulets purled but for her difcontent. From thefe flie 
flew in fearch of him, whom her foul loved, among the 
buftling roar of the city. And the third morning after 
fhe was confined in the hofpital, a courier delivered her 
a letter and a handkerchief full of choice fruit. Inclofed 
was the fubflance of the following : 

DEAR SIR, 

FRA UGHT with the feelings of a friend, who is^ 
doubtlefs, beyond your conception, interefled in your health 
and happinefs, I take liberty to addrefs you with a frank- 
nefs, which nothing but the purefl friendfhip and affeftioit 
can palliate, — Know, then, that the charms I firfl read in 
your vifage brought a paffon into my bofom, for which I 
could not account. If it was from the thing called love, 
I was before moflly ignorant of it, and flrove to flifle the 
fugitive ; though I confefs the indulgence was agreeable. 
But repeated interviews with you kindled it into a flame, 
I do not now blujli to own : and fJiould it 7neet a generous 
return, I fliall not reproach fnyfelf for its indulgence, — / 
have lo7ig fought to hear of your apartment: And how 
painful is the news I this moment received, that you are 
fick, if alive, in the hofpital! Your complicated nerves 
will not admit of writing. But inform the bearer, if you 
are necefjitated for any thing, that can conduce to your 
comfort. If you recover, and think proper to enquire m,y 
name, I will give you an opportunity. But if death is to 
terminate your exiflence there, let your lafl fenfes be im.- 



REVIEW. 193 

prejffed with the refleftion^ that you die not without one 
more friend, who/e tears will bedew your funeral obfequies, 
— Adieu. 

Some have been charmed, others furprifed by love in 
the dark, and from an unexpe6ied quarter ; but fhe alone 
can conceive what effefl, what perturbation, fuch a decla- 
ration had on her mind ; whofe neareft profpe6l feemed 
that of her own diffolution. She humbly returned her 
gratitude, but happily was not in want of money ; owing 
to a prize fhe in company had found in the Britifh lines, 
confifting of clothes, plate and coin.^^ In the evening 
fhe received a billet inclofmg two guineas. The like 
favors were continued during her illnefs.'°° But fhe knew 
not in whofe bofom the paffion vibrated. — Her recovery 
mufl make the next chapter eventful. 

99, 100 No llatements like thefe appear in the MS. memoir. 



CHAP. X. 

Her critical fituation, — Commences a tour towards the 
Ohio with fome Gentlemen. — Interview with her lover. 
— They meet a terrible tempest. — She is leftjick with 
the Indians. 

T TEALTH having reanimated the fo much admired 
-*■ •*• Virago, one might conclude fhe had bufmefs enough 
on hand : And, gracious Powers ! what had fhe not on 

25 



194 THE FEMALE 

her heart and mind ? Sufpiclous that a difcovery had 
been made during her illnefs, every zephyr became an 
ill-fated omen and every falutation, a mandate to fummon 
her to a retribution for her impofition on the mafculine 
charadler. 

Such embarraffments foreboded the winding up of her 
drama. And flie was doubtlefs careful to pifture the 
event in the blackeft colours. A retrofpe6lion of her life 
mufl have brought, to her mind, a contrail, unknown to 
many and dreaded by all. But having ftood at helm 
during the feverity of the ftorm, fhe concluded, if a con- 
cefiion muft be extorted from her, it might appear lefs 
daftardly after a beautiful, ferene day had commenced : 
And that it mattered little, whether it fliould happen 
among the infatiable throng of the city, or the ruder few 
of the defolate heath. — Thus the lionefs, having pervaded 
every toil and danger, from the hounds and hunters, at 
length, cornered on all fides, difdaining their fury, yields 
herfelf a prey. 

Doctor Bana was now waiting a convenient opportu- 
nity to divulge to her his fufpicion of her fex. He often 
found her dejefted ; and as he gueffed the caufe, intro- 
duced lively difcourfe. She had the happinefs to recom- 
mend herfelf much to the efteem of his difcreet and 
amiable daughters. And the Doftor was fond that fo 
promifmg 2, Jiripling fliould often gallant them into the 
city and country villages. The unruffled furface of a 



REVIEW. 



195 



fummer's fea was alfo often a witnefs to their paftimes.'°' 
This rare fpecies of innocent recreation was, doubtlefs, 
pecuHarly gratifying to the Dodor ; as his mind could 
not be more at reft on his daughters' account. Nor need 
they think themfelves chagrined, when it is known they 
once had a female gallant ; on the ftrength of whofe arm 
and fword they would have depended in cafe of danger. 

After fhe had refumed her regimentals to rejoin the 
troops, the Doftor, availing himfelf of a private confer- 
ence, afked her, whether flie had any particular confident 
in the army ? She faid, no ; and trembling, would have 
difclofed the fecret : but he, feeing her confufion, waved 
the difcourfe. To divert her mind, he propofed her tak- 
ing a tour towards the Ohio with Col. Tupper'°^ of Maffa- 



loi By "a fummer's fea," here, is 
meant the River Delaware, on which 
they fometimes enjoyed a fail. (See 
note 97.) Mrs. Ellet here introduces 
a love adventure between Deborah 
and a niece of the do6lor, which cor- 
refponds with that between the former 
and the Baltimore lady. 

102 Col. (afterwards Gen.) Benjamin 
Tupper was born in Sharon, then a 
part of Stoughton, Mafs., in 1738. 
He was a private foldier in the " Old 
French War," from 1755 to 1762. 
He was in the military fervice of his 
country during the whole Revolution- 
ary War ; firft as major, then as 
colonel, of the Eleventh Maflachu- 
fetts Regiment. Very foon after the 
war, he, with Gen. Rufus Putnam 



and other officers of the Continental 
army, united in a plan for the fettle- 
ment of what is now the State of 
Ohio. The journey mentioned in the 
text may have been conne6ted with 
this defign. In the fummer of 1785, 
Gen. Tupper went as far as Pittf- 
burgh, with the intention of making 
a furvey of a portion of the lands in 
that State, but was prevented by the 
unfriendly fpirit of the Indian tribes 
at that time. A furvey of feven ranges 
of townfhips in Ohio was completed 
in the fummer of 1786, under his di- 
re6lion. With two wagons, one for 
his family, the other for their baggage, 
he went all the way from Chefterfield, 
Mafs., then his home, to Marietta, 
Ohio, and, with others, commenced 



196 THE FEMALE 

chufetts, Meffrs. Forkson and Graham of Philadelphia ; 
who were going, partly to contemplate the country and 
partly to difcover minerals. Knowing the mineral rods 
were peculiar to her, he faid, whilft the tour might be 
profitable, it might be a reftorative to her health, and an 
amufement to her mind. 

Surprised to find this met her concurrence, he ufed 
fome arguments to diffuade her from it : But finding her 
unequivocal, he enjoined it upon her to vifit his houfe at 
her return ; which fhe promifed. And about the laft of 
Augufl, they fet out from the Conafioga Waggon and 
went, in the ftage, the fifft day, to Baltimore, which is 
eighty miles. 

Next day, as fhe was viewing the town, fhe received a 
billet requefting her company at fuch a place. Though 
confident fhe had before feen the hand writing, flie could 
not conje6lure what was commencing. Prompted by cu- 
riofity, fhe went ; and being conduced into an elegant 
room, was flruck with admiration, on finding alone, the 

amiable and all accomplifhed Mifs , of about feven- 

teen, whom flie had long thought a confpicuous ornament 
to her fex. The lady expreffed furprife on feeing him, 
who, according to report, had died foon after fhe left the 
metropolis. An acquaintance being before eftablifhed. 



the fettlement of that town in Augufl, It is not at all likely that Deborah 

1788. He died in June, 1792. — [S. Sampfon accompanied Col. Tupper 
P. Hildreth's Early Settlers of Ohio ^^ on fuch an expedition. 



REVIEW. 197 

mutual compliments paffed between the lovers. The 
young lady confeffed herfelf author of the anonymous 
letter, '°^ And though uncertain of a conceffion — timor- 
ous as a young roe, yet pliant as the bending ozier, with 
the queen of love refident in her eye, ihe rehearfed her 
plaint of love with that unrefervednefs, which evinced 
the fmcerity of her paffion and exaltednefs of foul. The 
foul is the emporium of love. — Their blufhes and palpi- 
tations were, doubtlefs, reciprocal ; but, I judge, of a dif- 
ferent nature. But while this liberal conceffion was the 
flrongefl evidence, that fhe poffeffed love, without defire 
of proilitution, and friendfliip without diffimulation ; let 
it be remembered, to her honor, that her effufions flowed 
with that affability, prudence and dignified grace, which 
mufl have fired the breafl of an anchorite — inanimate 
nature itfelf mufl; have waked into life, and even the fu- 
perftitious, cowled friar muft have revoked his eternal 
vows of celibacy, and have flown to the embraces of an 
objeft, exhibiting fo many charms in her eloquence of 
love. 

Thus, ye delicate, who would be candidates for the 
fruition of this noble, this angelic paffion, it is refinement 
only, that renders your beauty amiable, and even unre- 
fervednefs, in either fex, agreeable. The reverfe is only 
a happy circumfl;ance between vice and virtue. While it 
there happily preys on every delicate fenfation, it renders 

103 For the letter, fee page 192. 



198 THE FEMALE 

the idea of enjoyment loathfome, and even hurries deli- 
cacy herfelf into diflrefs. 

Had this unfortunate lover uttered herfelf in an un- 
couth, illiterate, unpolifhed manner, every word would 
have lofl its energy and all her charms become vapid on 
the fenfes. — Or, had flie affumed the attire — the cunning 
of an harlot — the defperate fimplicity of a young wanton ; 
had fhe begun her fubtle eloquence with a kifs ; and, with 
the poifon of afps under her tongue, have reprefented her 
bed of embroidery filled with perfume, and finally have 
urged that the abfence of the good man gave them an 
opportunity to riot in the extatic delights of love — while 
our young fugitive would have needed fupernatural means 
to have anfwered the demands of venerious appetition, 
the fimple might have found fatiety in her feraglio : But 
Virtue would have continued on her throne in fullen fad- 
nefs. But this was not the cafe. Though fufpended be- 
tween natural and artificial confufion — though ficknefs 
had abated her acutenefs for the foft romances of love ; 
fhe doubtlefs embraced the celeflial maid, and wifhing 
herfelf miftrefs of her fuperior charms, could not but par- 
ticipate in the genial warmth of a paffion fo irrefiftibly 
managed. Knowledge intermixed with beauty and re- 
finement, enkindles a warmth of the pureft love ; and, like 
the centre of the earth, commands the power of attra61ion. 
She tarried in this fchool of animal philofophy the mofl 



REVIEW. 199 

of two days ; then promifmg to vifit her in her return, 
proceeded on her journey.'°^ 

From Baltimore, paffmg Elk Ridge, they came to Al- 
exandria in Virginia. Nine miles below, is Mount Ver- 
non, the feat of the illuftrious Washington, which they 
vifited. It is fituated near a bend in the Potomak; where 
it is two miles wide. The area of the mount is 200 feet 
above the furface of the river. On either wing, is a thick 
grove of flowering trees. Parallel with them, are two 
fpacious gardens, adorned with ferpentine gravel walks, 
planted with weeping willows and fhady fhrubs. The 
manfion houfe is venerable and convenient. A lofty 
dome, 96 feet in length, fupported by eight pillars, has a 
pleafmg effeft when viewed from the water. This, with 
the affemblage of the green houfe, offices and fervant's 
halls, bears the refemblance of a rural village ; efpecially 



104 Inftead of this rapfody, take could I do, what could I fay, in fuch 

the following, from the MS. memoir : an ^exigency? How Ihould I feel, 

" She received me with a dignified on receiving fuch a declaration from 

and yet famihar air. She apologized fuch a heart ? I could iiot a6l the 

with infinite grace for overftepping hypocrite with fuch an artlefs girl ; 

the acknowledged bounds of female nor could I refufe the affeflion fo 

delicacy in making fuch an overture warmly proffered, and fo delicately 

to a gentleman. She expreffed great expreffed. But I could not then dif- 

pleafure and much furprife at feeing clofe to her the fecret I was fo anx- 

me alive ; having been led to fuppofe, ious to conceal from all the world be- 

from an account that reached her not fide. In this fl^te of embarraffment 

long before, that I had died in the I continued the mofi; of two days, and 

hofpital. She confeffed the tender finally compromifed the matter by 

fentiments of her heart, which had led promifing to call on her again on my 

her to feek this interview. . . . What return from the Wefl;." 



200 THEFEMALE 

as the grafs plats are Interfperfed with little copfes, circu- 
lar clumps and fingle trees. A fmall park on the margin 
of the river, where the Englifli fallow deer and the 
American wild deer are alternately feen through the 
thickets by paffengers on the river, adds a romantic and 
picturefque profpe61 to the whole fcenery. Such are the 
philofophic fliades, to which the late Commander of the 
American Armies, and Prefident of the nation, has now 
retired, from a tumultuous and bufy world. 

Their next route was to the fouthweflern parts of Vir- 
ginia.*" Having travelled fome days, they came to a large 
river ; when the gentlemen and guide difputed, whether 
it was the Monongahela, Yohogany, or the Ohio itfelf '"^ 
They concluded to wait till the fog, which was very thick, 
Ihould be gone, that they might determine with more 
precifion. But inflead of diffipating, it increafed, and 
they heard thunder roll at a diflance. On a fudden, a 
moft violent tempefl of wind and rain commenced, ac- 
companied with fuch perpetual lightning and peals of 
thunder, that all nature feemed in one combuftible con- 
vulfion. The leeward fide of a fhelving rock illy fcreened 
them from the ftorm, which continued to rage the moft 

* I KNOW not whether it was in this tour, that Ihe vifited the famous 
Cafcade in Virginia, Madison's Cave on the North fide of the Blue 
Ridge, and the paffage of the Potomak through the fame ; which is one 
of the moft auguft fcenes in nature. 

105 This river proved to be the Shenandoah. 



REVIEW. 20I 

of the night. Happily they were preferved ; though one 
of their dogs became a viftim to the ele6lric fire. It is 
faid, he was fo near their female companion, when killed, 
that fhe could have reached him with a common ftafif. 

Next day, the weather was calm. They difcharged 
their pieces in order to clean them ; the report of which 
brought to their view fix of the natives in warlike array. 
Many ceremonies were effefted, before they could be con- 
vinced of friendfhip. When effefted, they folicited the 
guide to follow them ; indicating by their rude noifes and 
aftions, they were much troubled. He refufing, their 
Adventrefs laughed at his cautiom'°^ One of the Indians, 
obferving this, ran to her, fired his arrow over her head, 
took a wreath of wampum, twined it about her waifl;, and 
bade her follow. She obeyed ; though they checked her 
prefumption. They condufted her to a cave ; which, 
file thinks, is as great a natural curiofity, as that of Mad- 
ison's. They complimented her to enter firft ; which fhe 
durft not refufe. They followed ; and advancing nearly 
to the centre, fell on their faces ; and whilft the cave 
echoed with their frightful yells and a6tions, our Adven- 
trefs, as ufual, doubtlefs, thought of home. When they 
rofe, they ran to the further part, dragged three dead In- 



106 " Obferving that he [the guide] treme caution. My companions taxed 

hefitated, I ftepped forward with my me with prefumption and folly, but I 

gun, and offered to go in his place, was determined, then and always, not 

at the fame time laughing at his ex- to be a coward." 
26 



202 THEFEMALE 

dians out of the cave and laid their faces to the ground. 
Then climbing a rock, they rolled down immenfe flones ; 
then whooping, firft pointing to the fky, then to the flones, 
and then to the Indians ; who were killed by the lightning 
the preceding day. Having convinced them, flie under- 
flood it, and that the mate to a dog with her had fhared 
the fame fate, they conduced her to her company. They 
told her, they had defpaired of ever feeing her again ; 
concluding her fcalp was taken off, when they heard the 
fhouting. She jocofely extolled them for their champion 
courage, but not for their lenity ; as they did not go to 
her relief. They all then went to the cave and attended 
their favage, funeral ceremonies. 

The Indians went with them up the river, which they 
concluded to be one of the Kanhawas. But in this they 
were miftaken ; they being too much to the South. They 
hired one of the tribe to pilot them'"^ over the Allegany. 
Paffmg the Jumetta Creek and the Fork of the Pennfyl- 
vania and Glade Roads, about 40 miles from the Jumetta, 
they came to the foot of the Dry Ridge.'°^ Here they 
found trees, whofe fruit refembled the neftarine ; and, like 
it, delicious to the tafle. Eating freely of it, till obferving 
the Indian did not, they defifled. And happily fo ; for it 



107 " Two of the Indians we hired range we had already pafled. There 

as guides over the next range of the are two Kenhawas." 

Alleghanies, which is more lofty and io8 The Laurel Mountains, the weft- 

majellic than the Blue Ridge, the em range of the Alleghanies. 



REVIEW. 203 

came near proving mortal. Its firft effe6l was ficknefs at 
the ftomach. The defcendent of her, who is accufed of 
having been too heedlefs of the bewitching charm of cu- 
riofity, puked and bled at the nofe, till fhe was unable to 
walk. The Indian was miffmg ; but foon came with a 
handful of roots, which, being bruifed and applied to her 
nofe and each fide of her neck, flopped the blood and 
ficknefs. 

Hence they vifited a tribe near a place, called Medfkar. 
She was here fo indifpofed, flie could not proceed on the 
journey. Her illnefs proved a relapfe of her fever.'°^ The 
pilot interceded with the King for her to tarry with them 
till the return of her company ; vv/'hich, he faid, .would be 
at the clofe of one moon. Being convinced they were no 
fpies, nor invaders, he confented. He then ordered an 
Indian and his fquaw to do6lor her ; telling them, the boy 
would eat good, when fattened."" — She remarks, that 
their medicines always had a more fenfible effeft, than 
thofe of common phyficians. Thus, in a fhort time, flie 
recovered. But I fliall not attempt to recount all her 
fufferings, efpecially by hunger, but a more intenfe torture 
of mind, during this barbarous fervitude. 

Her aim was, never to difcover the leafl cowardice, 
but always to laugh at their threats. A flriking inftance 
of this ihe exemplified at their coronation of a new King. 

109 It was a return of the fever (he "o This was faid to try her cour- 

had in Philadelphia. age. 



204 T H E F E M A L E 

Her mailer, like a hell-hound, hooting her into theTquare, 
where were many kettles of water boiling, told her, he 
was going to have a llice of her for dinner. Being the 
only white man (a girl/) among them, flie was inftantly 
furrounded by the infernals. She afked him if he ever 
ate Engliflimen? He anfwered, good omjkuock I She 
then told him, he muft keep her better, or flie fliould 
never do to eat. Some underftood her; and giving a 
terrible fliout, firft told her to cut a notch in the great 
flone kalendar, then putting her hands on the king's 
head, flie joined the dance, and fared with the reft. 
Ladies at a civilized ball may be infenfible of this fcene. 

The reader keeps in view, I fuppofe, that all female 
coui-age is not jeoparded in this manner. I am perfeftly 
enraptured with thofe females, who exhibit the mofl re- 
fined fenfibility and fkill in their fweet domejlic round, and 
who can fliow a group of well bred boys and girls. But I 
muft aver, I am alfo happy, if this rare female has filled 
that vacuity, more or lefs in every one's bofom, by the 
execution of the worft propenfities : For, by fimilitude, we 
may anticipate, that one half of the world in future are to 
have lefs goads in their confciences, and the other, fafter 
accumulating a fund of more ufeful acquifition. 



REVIEW. 205 



CHAP. XI. 

A hunting tour. — She kills her Indian companion, — Comes 
near perijiiing in the wildernefs, — Liberates an Englijh 
Girl, condemned to be btirnt. — Their return to Phil- 
adelphia, 

\ URORA had fcarcely purpled the Eafl after the 
^ ^ coronation, before a large company, including our 
Adventrefs, fat out for hunting.'" She quickly efpied a 
wild turkey on a high tree, which fhe killed. Then, with 
a6lions peculiar to Indians, they furrounded her to extol 
her being quick fighted and a good markfman. They 
encamped that night under an hickory ; through which 
was a chafm cut fufficient for two to walk abreafl. In 
the morning they divided into parties. An old Indian, a 
boy and our Adventrefs compofed one. Elate with the 
beauty of the morning, the old Indian led off about the 
fun's rifmg. Afcending a large hill, the dogs ftarted a 
buffalo, which fhe fhot before the Indian got fight. The 
boy was much elevated with her alertnefs : but the Indian 
difcovered much envy. He however craved the butcher- 
ing; which fhe granted, referving the fkin to herfelf 
Making a hearty meal of the buffalo, they travelled all 
day, without killing any more game, except three turkeys. 

Ill "Aurora now, fair daughter of Sprinkled with rofy light the 

the dawn, dewy lawn." — {^Pope's Iliad.'] 



2o6 THEFEMALE 

Night having again drawn her fable curtains, they took 
lodgings under a large fycamore : but flie had an unufual 
averfion to fleep ; as ilie miflrufled the fame of the In- 
dian. At length, flie became fatisfied he had a fatal 
defign on her life. Feigning herfelf afleep, flie waited till 
he had crawled within mufket reach of her ; when, to her 
furprife, flie difcovered a hatchet in his hand. Without 
hefitating, flie leaped upon her feet, and fhot him through 
the breafl, before he had time to beg quarters. 

The explofion of the gun awaked the boy ; who, feeing 
his countryman dead, rent his clothes, whooped and tore 
the ground, like a mad bull ; fearing he fhould fhare the 
fame fate. She pacified him, by obferving, it was in de- 
fence of her own life fhe had killed him ; and that, if he 
would condudl well, and promife on his life to conceal it 
from his countrymen, he fliould fare- well. He fwore 
allegiance. And in the morning, they hoifted an old log 
and left the barbarian under it. 

Behold now a young female, who might, doubtlefs, 
have flione confpicuous with others of her fex in their 
domeflic fphere, reduced to the forlorn neceffity of roam- 
ing in a defolate wildernefs ; whofe only companion, ex- 
cept wild beafis, is an Indian boy ; whofe only fuftenance 
fuch as an uncultivated glebe affords ; and whofe awful 
profpefl, that of perifliing at fo great a diftance from all 
fuccors of humanity ! To thofe, who maintain the doc- 
trines of fatalifm, flie is certainly a fubje6l of their greateft 



REVIEW. 207 

fympathy. And even to thofe, who may be unwilling to 
adduce any other traits in her life, but wild, diffolute 
freaks of fancy, to be gratified at her option, flie is rather 
an objeft of pity than contempt. 

At night, almoft fpent with hunger and fatigue, they 
lay down to repofe. But they were immediately alarmed 
by voracious beafls of prey. Their only fafety, and that 
not fure, was to lodge themfelves in a high tree. The 
fires they had kindled gained their approach and en- 
creafed their bowlings. The boy was fo frightened, he 
ran up the tree like a fquirrel. She followed, affifted, 
doubtlefs, by the fame thing. Though drowfy, they durfi: 
not fleep, left they fliould fall. With the fi:rap of her 
fufee and handkerchief, flie made herfelf faft to a limb and 
flept till day. It rained by fhowers the moft of the night. 
After fhe awoke, her fecond thought was of the boy. She 
fpoke to him; but he did not anfwer. Looking up at 
him, fhe was furprifed to fee him intently employed in 
difengaging his hair, w^hich he had faithfully twined round 
the branches. 

After defcending the tree and threfliing themfelves 
till they could walk, they fhaped their courfe for the 
Eaft ; but God only knows which way they went. Towards 
night, they difcovered a huge precipice ; but found it in- 
acceffible till they had travelled nearly four miles round 
it. Then afcending, they came to a rivulet of good 
water ; and by it, took their abode during the night. In 



2o8 THEFEMALE 

the morning, they were at a fland, whether to defcend, or 
attempt to reach its fummit. The poor boy wept bitter- 
ly ; which, flie fays, were the firft tears fhe ever faw an 
Indian fhed. They concluded on the latter ; as their af- 
cent might poffibly difcover fome profpe61: of efcape. 
Paffmg many fharp ledges, they came to a fpot of bears 
grafs, on which fhe reclined, thinking the period of her 
life was haftening with great rapidity, the following may 
not be a rude fketch of her refleftions on this occafion : 

" Where am I ! What have I been doing ! Why did 
I leave my native land, to grieve the breafl of a parent, 
who has, doubtlefs, fhed floods of tears in my abfence, 
and whofe cup of calamities feemed before but too full ! 
But here I am ; where I think, human feet never before 
trod. And though I have relatives, and perhaps, friends; 
they can obtain no knowledge of me, not even to clofe 
my eyes, when death fliall have done its oflice, nor to 
perform the laft, fad demand of nature, which is to con- 
fign the body to the dufl;! — But flop! vain imagination! 
There is a Deity, from whom I cannot be hidden. It is 
HE, who fhapes my end. — My foul what thinkefl thou of 
immortality, of the world, into which thou art fo rapidly 
haflening ! No words, no fagacity can difclofe my appre- 
henflons. Every doubt wears the afped of horror ; and 
would certainly overwhelm me, were it not for a few 
gleams of hope which dart acrofs the tremendous gloom. 
Happy, methinks I fliould be, could I but utter even to 



REVIEW. 209 

myfelf, the anguifh of my mind, thus fufpended between 
the extremes of infinite joy, or eternal mifery ! It appears 
I have but juft now emerged from fleep ! Oh, how have 
I employed my time ! In what delirium has the thread 
of my life, thus far, been fpun ! While the planets in 
their courfes, the fun and ftars in their fpheres have lent 
their refulgent beams — perhaps I have been lighted only 
to perdition!" 

While in this extacy, fhe availed herfelf of the oppor- 
tunity to write to her female companion ; and in it in- 
clofed a letter to her mother, in hopes it might, by means 
of the boy, reach her. 

Dear Miss , 



PERHAPS you are the neareji friend I have, — But a 
few hours mufl inevitably waft me to an infinite difiance 
from all fublunary enjoyments, and fix me in a fiate of 
change lefs retribution. Three years having made me the 
fport of fortune — I am at length doomed to end my exift- 
ence in a dreary wilder nefs, unattended, except by an Indian 
boy. If you receive thefe lines, remember they come from^ 
one, who fincerely loves you. But my amiable friend, for- 
give my imperfeSlions, and forget you ever had affection for 
oney2? unworthy the name of 

YOUR OWN SEX. 

While in this pofition, fhe heard the report of a gun. 
Starting about, fhe miffed the boy and her fufee. She 
could not recolleft whether he was with her when fhe fat 

27 ... 



2IO THE FEMALE 

down, or not. But fummoning all her ftrength and refo- 
lution, flie had nearly reached the fummit of the moun- 
tain, when flie met the boy. He told her he fired that 
fhe might come to him ; but as fhe did not, he concluded 
(lie would do to eat, and was going to fill his belly with 
good om/kuock.''^^ He feemed glad he had found fome- 
thing to relieve them. Giving her a fcrohon and four 
grapes, he bid her follow him. Coming to an immenfe 
rock, he crept through a fiffure ; and, with much ado, flie 
after him. Here they found wild fcrohons, hops, gourds, 
ground-nuts and beans. Though moflly rotten, they ate 
fome of them, and were revived. Then, at a great dif- 
tance, opened to their view, a large river or lake, and 
vaflly high mountains. Whilfi they were contriving how 
to get to the river, they heard the firing of fmall arms, 
which they anfwered and had returns. 

Descending the precipice, they came to large rocks of 
ifmglafs, and brooks of choice water. At its bafe, they 
came up with a large company of Indians, who had been 
to Detroit, to draw blankets and military flores. But to 
her furprife, who fliould make one of the company, but a 
dejedled yowng female / At once, flie was anxious to 
learn her hiflory; which fhe foon did at private inter- 



na It is otherwife in the MS. me- dead, 

moir. " He faid he difcharged the ground-nuts," &c. Thefe adventures 

gun, that I might come to him; but, in the wildernefs are related with great- 

as I did not, he concluded that J was er fulnefs, and in far better language. 



REVIEW. 211 

views. — She faid, fhe was taken from Cherry Valley — 
had been fold many times, but expe6ted to be fold no 
more ! — Tears prevented her proceeding. 

In three days they arrived at the place from whence 
(he firft fat out on hunting. The old chief accufed her 
for having run away after the Engliflimen : and it was the 
boy, with the interpofition of Providence, faved her life. 
She here quickly learned, that her unfortunate Jijler fuf- 
ferer was to be burnt, after they ihould have one court 
and a pawaw, for letting fall a papoos, when travelling 
with an intenfe load. At once fhe refolved to liberate 
her, if any thing fhort of her own life would do it. Her 
plan was thus concerted : She requefted to marry one of 
their girls. They haughtily refufed ; but concluded, for fo 
much, fhe might have the white girl. Begging her re- 
prieve, till the return of her company, which happened 
the next day, they all liberally contributed, and thus paid 
her ranfom. The poor girl fainted at the news. But 
hearing the conditions, Ihe feemed fufpended in choice, 
whether to fuffer an ignominious death, or be bought as 
a booty to be raviflied of her virgin purity : "^ — For fhe 
intimated that, among all the cruelties of thefe favages, 
they had never intruded on her chaftity. Her intended 
husband privately told her, the rites of the marriage bed 
fhould be deferred, till the ceremony fhould be folemnized 

"3 She regarded any marriage which cumllances as of no validity. The In- 
could take place under exifting cir- dians had no marriage ceremonies. 



212 THE FE MALE 

in the land of civilization. At night a bear's fkin was 
fpread for their lodging ; but, like a timorous bride, fleep 
was to her a flranger. On their return to Philadelphia, 
they purchafed her a fuit of clothes ; but flie, unable to 
exprefs her gratitude, received them on her knees, and 
was, doubtlefs, glad to relinquifh her fham marriage, and 
to be fent to her uncle ; who flie faid, lived in James 
City."^ 

Arrived at Baltimore, flie repaired to vifit her com- 
panion, who became much affefted with her hiflory. She 
now thought it time to divefl; herfelf of the mafk ; at leafl 
to divert a paffion, which fhe feared had too much in- 
volved one of the choiceft of her fex. After thanking her 
for her generous efleem, and many evafive apologies — 
that fhe was but a {tripling foldier, and that had fhe incli- 
nations, indigence would forbid her fettling in the world : 
The beautiful nymph replied, that, fooner than a concef- 
fion fliould take place with the leafl reludance, fhe would 
forfeit every enjoyment of connubial blifs : But, flie added, 

114 "The next day, my company were by accident informed, had re- 

[Col. Tupper and the other gentle- moved, jull after the furrender of 

men] fortunately reached the Indian Cornwalhs, to Williamsburg, in Vir- 

camp, on their return home. The ginia." If this unfortunate maid was 

flipulated ranfom being paid between taken, as is faid above, from Cherry 

us, we took the hberated girl to Bal- Valley, fhe muft have been of New- 

timore in our party. There we pro- England origin, and her parents 

cured for her a liberal fubfcription in would not at this time refide on the 

apparel and money. Hence we fent James River in Virginia. This story 

her, with a heart overflowing with of the captive girl mufl; therefore be 

gratitude, to her parents, who, we received with some diftrust. 



REVIEW. 



213 



if want of interell; was the ^ only obftacle, fhe was quickly 
to come into the poffeffion of an ample fortune ; and 
finally intimated her defire, that fhe fliould not leave 
her."5 

Touched with fuch a pathetic affemblage of love and 
beauty, (lie burfl into tears, alid told her, fhe would go to 
the northward, fettle her affairs, and in the enfuing fpring, 
if health fhould permit, would return ; when, if her perfon 
could conduce to her happinefs, flie lliould be richly en- 



"5 " No fooner had I returned to 
Baltimore than an irrefiftible attrac- 
tion drew me again into the prefence 

of the amiable Mifs P . I went 

with the full determination to confefs 
to her who and what I was. How 
fhould I do this ? I refolved to pre- 
pare the way for fuch a difclofure 
by endeavoring to weaken, without 
wounding, the paffion in her breaft. 
I told her I was but a ftripling fol- 
dier ; that I had few talents, and lefs 
wealth, to commend me to fo much 
excellence, or even to repay her re- 
gard and the favors fhe had already 
conferred on me. I told her, more- 
over, that I was about to rejoin the 
army, with a view to receive my dif- 
charge, and then to return to my re- 
latives in Maffachufetts, and to that 
obfcurity from which I had emerged ; 
but I found I had no power to dimin- 
ifh her regard for me. 

" While taking her hand, as if to 
bid her a laft adieu, I obferved in her 
an indefcribable delicacy flrugghng 



for expreffion, and mantling her fine 
features. Never can I forget the 
tender yet magnanimous look of dif- 
appointment fhe caft on me, yet with- 
out the leafl tin6lure of refentment, 
when, ftill holding her hand in mine, 
fhe replied, that, fooner than wring a 
relu6tant confent from me, fhe would 
forego every claim to connubial hap- 
pinefs. But the artlefs girl contin- 
ued, if want of wealth on my part 
were the chief obftacle, I might be 
relieved from all anxiety on that ac- 
count, as fhe was heirefs to an ample 
fortune ; it being a legacy which flie 
was to poffefs on her marriage with a 
man whofe worth fliould be found in 
his perfon rather than in his outward 
efttate. I longed to undeceive her. 
But the fecret I had fo long carefully 
guarded, I could not yet furrender. 
On parting, fhe prefented me with fix 
fine linen fhirts, made with her own 
hands, an elegant watch, twenty-five 
Spanifh dollars, and five guineas." — 
[MS. Memoir.] 



214 THE FEMALE 

titled to it.*"^ Thus parted two lovers, Viiox^jingular, if 
not more conjlant, than perhaps, ever diftinguifhed Col- 
umbia's foil. 

This event, as it is unnatural, may be difputed. It is 
alfo rare, that the fame paffion fliould ever have brought 
a woman to bed with feven children at a birth : And I 
think eight would rather be miraculous than natural. But 

* She has fince declared, fhe meant to have executed this refolution, 
had not fome traits of her Hfe been pubhfhed in the intervening time ; 
and that this lady fhould have been the firft to difclofe her fex. Before 
they parted, fhe made her a prefent of fix holland Ihirts, twenty five 
guineas and an elegant filver watch. This fhe will not blufh to own, if 
alive ; as it was out of the pureft regard for her own fex. 



"6 " It is no matter how I felt, or 
what I thought, faid, or did, on this 
occafion. I could not, if I would, de- 
fcribe either. I bade her adieu, and 
ftaggered to my lodging and to my 
bed. But, during the greater part of 
the night, my invocations to 'tired 
Nature's fweet reftorer ' were as ufe- 
lefs as though 'balmy fleep ' were 
never intended to refrefh the exhaufl- 
ed body, or retrieve a bewildered in- 
telle6l. At length the refolution with 
which I ftarted when I went to vifit 
my fair friend the day before — to dif- 
clofe to her the fecret of my fex — re- 
turned. I knew that this would be 
right : it was my indifpenfable duty. 
On refuming this intention, I fell into 
a fweet and tranquil flumber." And 
then fhe goes on to relate, with great 
delicacy of manner, and at much 
length, the interview that occurred 



at the lady's houfe that morning, in 
which the difclofure was fully made, 
and placed beyond all doubt by an 
a6lual infpeftion. The lady, as may 
well be fuppofed, was greatly aflon- 
ifhed : reafon, for a time, was well- 
nigh driven from the throne ; but the 
final parting was fatisfa6lory on both 
fides. 

" O Woman ! thou bright flar of 
love, whofe empire is beauty, vir- 
tue, refinement, the world were dark 
and chaotic without thee. Mifan- 
thropy and groffnefs would charac- 
terize man if left alone ; but in thy 
prefence his heart rifes to a pure and 
holy flame. Thy fmile is more pow- 
erful than the conqueror's fword. 
Thy fway is mightier than the mon- 
arch's fceptre. Thou bindeft man 
as with the fweet influences of a per- 
ennial fpring." — \^Ibid.'\ 



REVIEW. 215 

it is faid, that though perhaps the colouring is a little ex- 
aggerated, that this is a faft that will admit of incontefli- 
ble evidence. Nor need females think themfelves piqued 
to acknowledge it; as no one denies, {he was not an 
agreeable obje6l when mafqueraded ; which, by the by, I 
am forry to fay, is too often miftaken by that fex. 

Thus, we have a remarkable inftance of the origin of 
that fpecies of love, which renders the enjoyment of life 
fatisfa6lory, and confummates the blifs of immortality. 
The pafHon entertained by the fexes towards each other 
is, doubtlefs, from this fource ; and will always be laud- 
able, when managed with prudence. But I appeal to the 
lady's own bofom, if, after difcovering her Jijier, her 
paffion had not fubfided into a calm, and have drooped, 
like the rofe, or lilly, on its diflocated flalk. — About the 
third of November, they arrived at Philadelphia."^ 

"7 As Deborah Sampfon received Legiflature of Maffachufetts — at Weft 
her difcharge from the army — fee in Point, 061. 25, 1783, here is an evi- 
the Introduction her petition to the dent anachronifm in the text. 



<3^2Ji!^^^ 



<L.eJ^^j1^.^-^Kv^l^^^<>^^K^l^>-^^t^-^^ 



CHAP. XII. 

Doctor Bana gives her a letter to Gen, Patterson, then 
at Wejl Point, — On her journey there, Jhe is cajl away 
on Statens I/land, — The letter difclofes her sex to the 
General. — Their interview. — She obtains an honorable 
DISCHARGE and recommendations. — Goes to her rela- 
tions in MaJ/achu/etts, — Intrigues with her fex — cen- 
fured, — Reajfumes the female attire and economy. 

ELATED with her tranfition from a favage wildernefs, 
to a land fmiling with agriculture and civilization, 
her mind was once more illuminated with agreeable prof- 
pe6ls. But a review of her fituation caft an unfriendly 
group of objeds in her way. A remembrance of the 
Do6tor's queries and injundions,"^ was but recognizing 



"8 It does not appear what is meant 
by this. Dr. Binney had always 
treated her with the greatelt deUcacy 
and tendernefs. 

" On my return to the hofpitable 
manfion of Dr. Binney, in Philadel- 
phia, I told him I had called on him, 
not to tax his benevolence, which I 
had already largely experienced, but 
only to exprefs my gratitude, and to 
bid him adieu, while hafleningto rejoin 
the army preparatory to my difcharge 
and my return home. Every linea- 
ment of his countenance beamed with 
tendernefs and afFeftion as he faid, 
'■ I Ihall infill on your flaying with me 



at leaft twenty-four hours, as necef- 
fary to your reft and refrefhment, 
and as much more time for the ex- 
preffion of the fympathy I feel for 
you.' Had I met at his houfe my 
father and mother, and all my rela- 
tives, I could not have felt more at 
home. The filence that was obferved 
in reference to my fex created doubts 
in my mind whether the do6lor was 
altogether fatisfied with the difcovery 
he had made ; and I trembled left I 
ftiould be obliged to undergo another 
perfonal examination. 

"When about to depart, the doc- 
tor, furrounded by his family, be- 



REVIEW. 217 

the neceffity of a garland of fig leaves to fcreen a pearl, 
that could glitter only without difguife. 

On the day of her departure from Philadelphia, he en- 
trufted her with the care of a letter to Gen. Patterson, 
then at Weft Point. Then taking an affeftionate farewell 
of his family, flie fat out for the place. She went in the 
flage to Elizabeth Town, 1 5 miles from New York. The 
ftage boats being gone over, fhe, with about twelve others 
went on board the only one remaining. The fkipper was 
reludlant to accompany them; as it was late, rainy and a 
ftrong wind a head. — They quickly found the ftorm in- 
creafed ; and they had not gone half their voyage, before 
they had the terrible profpeft of the foundering of a boat 
with nineteen paffengers from South Amboy, bound to 
New York. Every one was loft. They heard their pite- 
ous cries, as the furges were clofmg over their heads ; 



flowed on me his parting counfels in but, to my fhame, I confefs that I 
a manner fo tender, that I muft have never fulfilled the promife. 
been from that moment a convert to " The do6lor now put into my hand 
virtue, had I previoufly been other- a large fealed letter, addreffed to Gen. 
wife. In conclufion, he faid, 'Take Patterfon, faying, 'Fail not to deliver 
a fhort prefcription as a token of my this : it contains a bequeft for you 
regard : Be careful of your health, and for him.' He then, with his 
and continue to be as difcreet in whole family, accompanied me to the 
every thing as you have been true ftage-office, where he had already en- 
to the caufe of freedom ; then your gaged my paffage, and paid the ex- 
country will have a wreath of undying penfe of it from Philadelphia to Weft 
fame for your brow. When you fhall Point. 

have received your difcharge from "About the 12th of October, I ar- 

the army, fend me a written Iketch of rived at Elizabethtown, in New Jer- 

your life.' This I partly promifed ; fey." — [AfS. Meinoir.'] 
28 



2i8 THEFEMALE 

but could afford no relief. Nor was their own profpe6l 
much better. It was afked, whether it was poffible to 
fwim to Staten Ifland ? It was unanimoully negatived : 
but a few minutes put them to the defperate experiment. 
Being nearly in the centre of the channel, the current 
rapid, and the ftorm boifterous, the boat filled with water 
and funk under them. Though nothing but death now 
ftared them in the face ; yet thofe exertions, which had 
before fnatched her from his jaws, we may fuppofe, were 
not here unemployed. She had on a large coat, which 
ferved to buoy her above the water; though flie was often 
ingulphed in the furges. She was waflied back twice, 
after reaching the foft fands. But, fortunately, clafping 
her arms on a bed of ruflies, flie held till many waves had 
fpent their fury over her. Thus recruiting flrength, and 
taking the advantage of the waves, flie gained hard bottom 
and the fhore. 

On the fliore, fhe found others in the fame wretched 
fituation, unable to ftand. She lay on her face all night. 
In the morning, the florm having abated, fhe heard Dr. 
VicKENS fay, " Bleffed be God, it is day ; though I believe 
I am the only furvivor among you all !" Happily, they 
were all alive, except two ; who unfortunately found a 
tomb in the watery element. They were foon taken up 
by a boat cruifmg for that purpofe, and carried back to 
Elizabeth Town. Mofb of her equipments, a trunk, in- 
cluding her journal, money, &c. was lofl. Her watch 



REVIEW. 



219 



and a morocco pocket-book, containing the letter, were 
faved."^ 

The third day, ilie had a good paffage to New York ; '^^ 
from thence to Weft Point. Arrived at the Generals 
quarters, fhe feemed like one fent from the dead ; as they 
had concluded the Potters Field had long been her 
home. Her next bufmefs was, to deliver the letter. 
Cruel tafk ! Dreading the contents, fhe delayed it fom.e 
days.'-' At length, flie refolved, her fidelity fliould tri- 
umph over every perturbation of mind in the delivery of 
the letter, and to apologize for her non-truft. Accord- 
ingly, finding him alone, flie gave him the quivering trea- 
fure, made obeifance, turned upon heal and withdrew in 
hafte.'" 

Precisely an hour after, unattended, he fent for her to 



"9 Mr. Wyatt, a contributor to 
" Graham's Magazine," fays the watch 
is ftill in the poffeffion of her defcen- 
dants. We have the authority of 
Rev. Mr. Pratt for faying that her 
canteen, preferved on tliis occafion, 
is now in the keeping of a relative of 
hers at Lakeville, Mafs. 

120 How could a Continental foldier, 
in full uniform, be allowed to vifit 
New York, when it was ftill occupied 
by the Britifh forces? The Britifh 
garrifon was not withdrawn till Nov. 
25? 1783. She certainly did not fet 
foot in New- York City at this time. 

121 The MS. memoir fays fhe de- 
livered it to him the next morning 



after her arrival, immediately after 
breakfaft. 

122 The MS. memoir contains the 
letter in full. The letter relates the 
circumftances of the difcovery, made 
by Dr. Binney in the hofpital at Phil- 
adelphia, of the fex of the young fol- 
dier ; fpeaks very highly and tenderly 
of the individual ; and dwells, at con- 
fiderable length, on the remarkable 
features of the cafe. It is expreffed 
with much delicacy and propriety, 
and is juft fuch a letter as might have 
been written by Dr. Binney, a man 
of benevolent feelings, to Gen. Pat- 
terfon ; and it is certainly a creditable 
production. 



220 THE FEMALE 

his apartment. She fays — ''A re-entrance was harder 
than facing a cannonade r Being defired to feat herfelf, 
the General, calHng her by name, thus gracefully ad- 
dreffed her : — " Since you have continued near three years 
in my fervice, always vigilant, vivacious, faithful, and, in 
many refpeds, diftinguifhed yourfelf from your fellows. — 
I would only afk — Does that martial attire^ which now 
glitters on your body, conceal a /"^//^^/^'i- yj?r;;^ .^" The 
clofe of the fentence drew tears in his eyes, and fhe 
fainted. He ufed his efforts to recover her; which he 
effe6led. But an afpeft of wildnefs was blended in her 
countenance. She proflrated herfelf at his feet, and begged 
her life ! He fliook his head ; but flie remembers not 
his reply. Bidding her rife, he gave her the letter, which 
he continued to hold in his hand. Reafon having re- 
fumed its empire, fhe read it with emotions. It was in- 
terefting, pathetic and colored with the pencil of humanity. 
He again exclaimed — " Can it be fo /" Her heart could 
no longer harbor deception. Banifliing all fubt*erfuge, 
with as much refolution, as poffible, flie confeffed herfelf 
— a femaleJ-^^ 

123 "Attempting to rife from my ments of this letter,' — ftill holding the 

feat, in order to reply, I loft the con- letter of Dr. Binney in his hand, — 

trol both of body and mind, and had ' you are not only fafe here, but en- 

nearly fainted away. Recovering, I titled to our warmeft refpe6l.' 

made out to fay, ' What will be my " ' Sir,' I faid, ' I am wholly in your 

fate, fir, if I anfwer in the affirma- power. God forbid that I fhould at- 

tive ? ' — 'You have nothing to fear,' tempt to conceal what I fuppofe is 

he replied. ' If you confirm the ftate- now fully known. I am A female ! 



REVIEW. 



221 



He then enquired concerning her relations ; but efpe- 
cially of her primeval inducements to occupy the field of 
war I She proceeded to give a fuccindt and true account ; 
and concluded by afking, if her life would be fpared ! — 
He told her, flie might not only think herfelf fafe, 
while under his proteftion ; but that her unrivalled 
achievements deferved ample compenfation — that he would 



But, oh, fir, now that I am weak and 
helplefs, withdraw not your protec- 
tion ! ' 

"'Can it be fo?' he exclaimed, 
after a fhort paufe, as if flill in doubt. 

" ' Sir,' faid I, * I have no defire to 
deceive you. Procure for me, if you 
can, a female drefs,' — an elegant one, 
I knew, was in the houfe, — ' and al- 
low me a retired place and a half 
hour to prepare myfelf ' 

"This was immediately compHed 
with. ... I was completely equipped, 
from head to foot, in a lady's attire, 
within the appointed time. . . . Af- 
fuming, for the time, fome of the 
modeft, bewitching feminine graces, 
I returned, and made my entree to 
Gen. Patterfon. 

" The eife6t was magical. Never 
before did I witnefs ecftafy fo com- 
plete in man. ' Remain as you are, 
a ftiort time at leaft,' faid the general. 
' This is truly theatrical. I will fum- 
mon Col. Jackfon, and fee if he knows 
you.' 

" Col. Jackfon was called in, and I 
was introduced to him as Mifs Deb- 
orah Sampfon. 'She is from your 
own State, the cradle of Liberty ; and 



a fit perfon fhe is to rock it till the 
infant is full grown. Do you not 
recognize her ? ' 

" ' While I fhould be proud of an 
acquaintance with fuch a chara6ler, I 
have no recolle6lion of this lady,' was 
the reply. 

" The converfation then paffed to 
other topics. At length Gen. Patter- 
fon alked if any information refpe6l- 
ing Robert Shurtliffe had been re- 
ceived. ' I fear,' faid Col. Jackfon, 
' that gallant young foldier has fallen 
a facrifice to his devotion to liberty.' 

" ' But there are miracles now, — 
wonders, at leaft,' — faid the general. 
' Our Revolution is full of them. But 
this young lady exceeds them all. 
Examine her clofely, and fee if you 
do not recognize Robert Shurtliffe ! ' 

" Imagination may finifh the paint- 
ing of this fcene. I will add, how- 
ever, that in this coftume I was ef- 
corted by thefe gentlemen over the 
tented ground, and amidft officers and 
foldiers, with whom, an hour before, 
I was as familiar as are the inmates 
of a family with one another; but 
none of them knew me." — {MS. Me- 
moir.'\ 



222 THEFEMALE 

quickly obtain her difcharge, and fhe fliould be fafely 
conduced to her friends. — But having had the tuition of 
her as a foldier, he faid, he mufl; take Hberty to give her 
that advice, which he hoped would ornament the fun6lions 
of her life, when the mafculine garb fliould be laid afide 
and flie taken to the embraces of that fex fiie was then 
perfonating. 

Immediately flie had an apartment affigned to her own 
ufe. And when the General mentioned the event to her 
Colonel and other officers, they thought he played at ca- 
jolery. Nor could they be reconciled to the faft, till it 
was corroborated by her own words. She requefted, as a 
pledge of her virtue, that flrict enquiry fhould be made of 
thofe, with whom fhe had been mefs-mate. This was 
accordingly done.'^^ And the effedl was — a panic of fur- 
prife with every foldier. Groups of them now crowded 
to behold a phenomenon, which before appeared a natural 
objedl. But as accefs was inadmiffible, many turned in- 

124 " Having furnifhed the gentle- my regimentals, becaufe that in them 

men with an account of my home, I fhould be more fafe from infult and 

my relatives, and the motives which annoyance. Many of the foldiers, 

led me to affume the chara6ler of a and many of my own fex, were defir- 

foldier, I requefted them to make the ous to fatisfy themfelves as to the 

ftri6lell inquiry into my manner of truth of what they had heard ; but, of 

life fmce I had been in the army, courfe, it was impoffible to gratify 

This was accordingly done. The re- their curiofity." 

fult was a general furprife, and, on Thus ends Mr. Mann's narrative of 

the part of many, a total disbelief, the adventures of Deborah Sampfon, 

An apartment was now affigned for in which, for the fake of greater force 

my ufe, and garments for either fex and fpirit, the heroine herfelf is made 

provided. But, in general, I preferred the fpeaker. 



REVIEW. 



223 



fidels, and few had faith. — Her difcharge is from Gen. 
Knox ; her recommendations from the Gens. Patterson 
and Shepard.^'-^ 

Being informed, her effefts and diplomas were in read- 
inefs, file payed her politeft refpefts to the gentlemen, 
who accompanied her to the place ; and wifliing an eter- 

* Since, by misfortune, loft. 



125 The Definitive Treaty of Peace 
between Great Britain, France, Spain, 
and the United States, was figned 
at Paris, Sept. 3, 1783. A ftate of 
peace, however, had a6lually exilled 
in America from the 19th of April, in 
the fame year, when a formal procla- 
mation of the ceffation of hoftilities 
was made in the army, by order of 
the Commander-in-Chief Informa- 
tion of the Definitive Treaty having 
been received, the third day of No- 
vember was affigned by Congrefs for 
disbanding the army of the United 
States. The city of New York was 
evacuated by the Britifh army, No- 
vember 25. 

On the 25th of Odober, at Weft 
Point, our heroine received an hon- 
orable difcharge from the fervice from 
the hand of Gen. Knox. Many tefti- 
monials of faithful performance of 
duty, and of exemplary condu6l in 
the army, were given to her, among 
others, from Generals Patterfon and 
Shepard, and Col. Jackfon, under 
whofe orders it had been her good 
fortune to ferve. Thefe papers may 
not have been preferved. 

Mrs. Ellet and fome others have 



ftated that the commander of the 
company in which our heroine ferved, 
on being informed by Dr. Binney 
that Robert Shurtliffe was a female, 
fent the fair foldier with a letter to 
Gen. Wafhington, conveying infor- 
mation of the fa6l ; that Wafhing- 
ton then gave her a difcharge from 
the army, with a note containing fome 
words of advice, and a fum of money 
fufficient to bear her expenfes home. 
A lengthy detail of circumftances is 
given in conne6tion with this ftate- 
ment. This account feems to be 
without any real foundation. In her 
petition to the Legiflature of Maffa- 
chufetts, Deborah fays fhe received 
her difcharge from Gen. Knox, as 
already ftated. Nor is it true, as 
ftated by Mrs. Ellet, that, during the 
adminiftration of Waftiington, Debo- 
rah received an invitation to vifit the 
feat of Government, and that, during 
her ftay, Congrefs paffed an a6l grant- 
ing her a penfion, in addition to cer- 
tain lands which ftie was to receive 
as a foldier. No penfion was granted 
her till Jan. i, 1803, and then not by 
Afl of Congrefs. See Introduction, 
pp. xvi. xviii. xix. xxiv. 



224 THE FEMALE 

nal FAREWELL to Columbia's cause, turned her back on 
the Aceldama, once more to re-echo the carols of peace 
on her native plains. In the evening, fhe embarked on 
board a floop from Albany to New York : From thence, 
in Capt. Allen's packet, flie arrived at Providence. 

Thus fhe made her exit from the tragic ftage. But 
how requifite was a parent's houfe — an afylum, from the 
ebullitions of calumny, where to clofe the lail affefting 
fcene of her complicated, woe-fraught revolution of her 
fex! With what eager ileps, would fhe have bent her 
next courfe over the then congealed glebe — to give a 
parent the agreeable furprife of beholding her long loft 
child — to implore her forgivenefs of fo wide a breach of 
duty, and to affume a courfe of life, which only could be 
an ornament to her fex and extenuation of her crime ! 
The ties of confanguinity, of filial affeftion and of folemn 
obligation, demanded this. But being deprived of thefe 
bleffings, flie took a few ftrides to fome fequeftered hamlet 
in Maffachufetts ; where Ihe found fome relations: and, 
affuming the name of her youngeft brother, flie paffed the 
winter as a man of the world, and was not awkward in 
the common bufmefs of a'farmer.'^^ But, if I remember, 



126 About the ift of November, and vague. Not knowing in what 

1783, fhe arrived among her relatives light fhe might be regarded by thofe 

in Maffachufetts, after an abfence of a who had formerly known her, fhe did 

year and fix months. During this not immediately difcover herfelf She 

period, her information refpefting ftill wore her military coflume, and did 

affairs at home had been very limited not go to Middleborough, where fhe 



REVIEW. 225 

fhe has intimated — that nothing in the villa could have 
better occupied a greater vacuity, than the diadem — edu- 
cation : which, I fondly hope, fome guardian cherub has 
fmce deigned to beftow. 

But her correfpondence with her fifler fex ! — Surely it 
muft have been that of fentiment, tafte, purity ; as animal 
love, on her part, was out of the queflion. But I beg ex- 
cufe, if I happen not to fpecify every particular of this 
agreeable round of acquaintance. It may fuffice, merely, 
to fay, her uncle being a compaffionate man, often repre- 
hended her for her freedom with the girls of his villa; and 
them he plumply called fools, (a much haflier name than 
I can give them) for their violent prefumption with the 
young Continental, Sighing, he would fay — their unre- 
ferved imprudence would foon dete6l itfelf — a multitude 
of illegitimates ! — Columbia would have bewailed the 
egregious event! Worfe, indeed, it might have been, 
had any one entered againft her — not a bill of eje^ment, 



had paffed moil of her Hfe. She went Waters, the husband of her mother's 

to refide with her uncle in Stoughton, fifler, AHce Bradford. Sharon was 

under the affumed name of Ephraim formerly a part of Stoughton. It was 

Sampfon, that of the younger of her during this winter that fhe became 

two brothers, if we may trufl the flate- acquainted with her future husband, 

ment made in the text. But did not It is faid he was determined to find 

her uncle and his family know that out whether the new-comer was a man 

the young foldier who fpent the winter or not, and to fome attempt of this na- 

with them was 7iot Ephraim Sampfon ? ture the next paragraph refers. 
The fuppofition is incredible. She pafTed the winter doing farm- 

The uncle with whom our heroine work, and flirting with the girls of the 

fpent the winter was undoubtedly Mr. neighborhood. 
29 



226 THEFEMALE 

but a fyftem of compuljion, for having won of her a large 
bet in a tranfport of bhfs, after Morpheus had too fud- 
denly whirled away two thirds of the night — ftill refufmg to 
fatisfy the demand ! — Blufli — blufh — rather lament, ye 
delicate, when fo defperate an extremity is taken to hurl 
any of your fifters into hymeneal blifs — wretchednefs. 

To be plain, I am an enemy to intrigues of all kinds. 
Our female adept had money; and at the worfl could 
have purchafed friends of our fex : But, methinks, thofe 
who can claim the leafl pretenfion to feminine delicacy, 
mufl be won only, by the gentleman, who can affociate 
the idea of companio^i without imbibing the principles of 
liber tinifm. Why did flie not, after the crackling faggot 
had rivalled the chirping of the cricket in the hearth, 
caution thofe, who panted — not like the hunted hart, to 
tafte the cooling rivulet — that the midnight watch might 
not have regiftered the plighted vows of love ! Having 
feen the world, and, of courfe, become acquainted with 
the female heart, and the too fatal avenues to it; why did 
fhe not — after convincing them that flie lacked not the 
courage of a village Hampden, preach to them the necef- 
fity of the prudence and inflruftions of fage Urania? 
That they might have difcovered their weakefl place, and 
have fortified the citadel ; left; a different attack fhould 
make a fatal inroad upon their reputation, and transfix a 
deadly goad through their breafts ! Venus knows not 
but fhe did : But they were all females. 



REVIEW. 



227 



Spring having once more wafted its fragrance from the 
South, our Heroine leaped from the mafculine, to the 
feminine fphere.''^ Throwing off her martial attire, fhe 



127 On the approach of fpring, De- 
borah refurned feminine apparel and 
employments. 

On the 7th day of April, 1784, fhe 
became the wife of Benjamin Gannett, 
a refpe6lable and induftrious young 
farmer of Sharon.* They were mar- 
ried at his father's houfe in that town. 

Her fubfequent hiftory mull of 
courfe have borne a fimilarity to thofe 
of mofi; of our countrywoman who 

* The pedigree of Benjamin Gannett is as 
follows : — 

I. Matthew Gannett,' born in England, 
1 618, came early to this country, and fettled firft 
in Hingham. In January, 165 1-2, he purchafed 
land in Scituate, an adjoining town, and removed 
to that place. He died in 1694, as we learn from 
his grave-ftone. He had feveral children, of 
whom Matthew 2 remained in Scituate, and Re- 
hoboth removed to Morriftown, N.J., where he 
died without iffue. 

II. Jofeph Gannett,2 fon of Matthew,' con- 
tinued to refide in Scituate, and died not long 
before his father. He married a widow Sharp. 

III. Jofeph Gannett,^ fon of the preceding, re- 
moved to Eaft Bridgewater about the year 1722. 
His brother Matthew 3 removed thither about the 
fame time. Jofeph ^ married Hannah Hayward, 
daughter of Dea. Jonathan Haj'ward, of Brain- 
tree. Their fon, 

IV. Benjamin Gannett,'* born 1728, married, 
1750, Mary Copeland, daughter of Jonathan Cope- 
land, of Bridgewater, and removed to Stoughton, 
the part afterwards Sharon. 

V. Benjamin Gannett,* bom 1753, was the 
husband of Deborah Sampfon, the heroine of 
our ftory. 

Benjamin Gannett,^ born 1728, had a brother 
Jofeph,^ born 1722, who was the father of Caleb 
Gannett,* who was a clergyman in Nova Scotia, 
afterwards tutor in Harvard College, and for 
many years fteward of that inftitution. Caleb 



cheer and adorn the homes of New 
England. She lived to rear a family 
of reputable children. She had an 
only fon, Capt. Earl B. Gannett, and 
two daughters. There are grandfons, 
we believe, now living in Sharon. 

She died at her home in Sharon, 
April 29, 1827, in the fixty-feventh 
year of her age. She fultained to the 
end the chara6ter of a faithful and 
exemplary wife and mother, a kind 
neighbor and friend. 

In ftature, Deborah Sampfon was 
five feet, feven inches. She was 
large and full around the waift. Her 
features were regular, but not beauti- 
ful. Her eyes were hazel, inclining 
to blue ; and were lively and pene- 
trating. Her complexion was fair 
and clear; her afpe6l was amiable 
and ferene, though fomewhat mafcu- 
line. Her limbs were well propor- 
tioned ; her movements were quick 
and vigorous ; and her pofition ere6l, 
as became a foldier. Her voice was 
agreeable ; her fpeech, deliberate and 
firm. The portrait at the beginning 
is from the old copper-plate ufed at 



Gannett* married a daughter of Rev. Ezra Stiles, 
D.D., Prefident of Yale College. They were the 
parents of Rev. Ezra Stiles Gannett, D.D., of 
Bofton. 

Jofeph Gannett,^ who fettled in Eaft Bridge- 
water about 1722, had by a fecond wife, Hannah 
Brett, a fon Matthew,* born 1755, who was the 
father of Rev. Allen Gannett, late of Lynnfield, 
now of Bofton. — {Mitcheirs Bridgewater.'^ 



228 



THE FE MALE 



once more hid her form with the difJiabille of Flora, re- 



the iflue of " The Female Review," 
fe verity years ago. It was executed 
when the art of engraving was in its 
infancy in this country, and muft not 
be fuppofed to do full juftice to the 
fubje6l. 

In military attire, ladies confidered 
her handfome. Several inftances are 
recorded where they were deeply 
fmitten by her good looks. Her deh- 
cate appearance, and particularly her 
having no beard, were often noticed. 
She was called the " fmock-faced 
boy," and the like ; but her fex was 
never fufpe6led. 

The prominent traits of her charac- 
ter were courage, love of adventure, 
and perfeverance under difficulties. 
She was bold, enterprifmg, and fear- 
lefs ; fhe had great felf-control, and 
a firm, refolute will. As a foldier, 
file exhibited great alertnefs, a6livity, 
fortitude, and valor. Her military 
life abounded with hardy and hazard- 
ous adventures, in all of which fhe 
bore herfelf with the firmnefs, refolu- 
tion, and patient endurance which 
are often thought to belong exclu- 
fively to the ftronger fex. Where 
any dared to go, fhe went ; and not 
to follow merely, but to lead. She 
often volunteered on expeditions at- 
tended with fpecial expofure and 
hardfhip. It is faid that on fcouting- 
parties fhe would always ride forward 
a little nearer the enemy than any of 
her comrades ventured. On one oc- 
cafion, meeting the enemy fuddenly 
in overwhelming force, it was necef- 



fary to abandon their horfes, and run 
acrofs a fwamp for dear life. She 
then fhowed' herfelf to be as fleet as 
a gazelle, bounding through the 
fwamp many rods ahead of her com- 
panions. It was thought that no man 
in the army could outrun her. 

As we have already feen, fhe went 
through two campaigns without the 
difcovery of her fex, and confequently 
without the lofs of her virtue. This 
faft, which is perfectly well eflablifhed, 
demonflrates not only ftrid moral 
principle, but the high qualities of 
firmnefs, refolution, felf-control, and 
perfeverance. Such a cafe, perhaps, 
was never known before. It certainly 
ftood alone in the Revolutionary war. 
She was never found in liquor, — a 
vice too common in all armies. It is 
well known that the Continental ar- 
my, though compofed in an unufual 
degree o'f men of principle and virtue, 
contained many men of unfound char- 
after. No ftain appears to have at- 
tached to the charafter of our heroine. 

To gratify the curiofity of the mul- 
titude, file once vifited Bofton ; and 
in the theatre, clad in military attire, 
fhe went through, at the word of a 
military officer, the manual exercife. 
Thofe who witneffed the performance 
faid that "fhe would almofl; make the 
gun talk ;" every time it came to the 
ground from her hand, the found was 
fo fignificant. 

Her deportment was eminently fol- 
dier-like, and none were more expert 
in the drill than herfelf Mr. Amos 



REVIEW. 



229 



commenced her fomier occupation ; and I know not, that 



Sampfon, who is now living in 
Charleftown at the age of nearly 
feventy-nine, told me that he wit- 
neffed the fcene, and that it occurred 
when he was an apprentice to the 
printing-bufinefs, and therefore be- 
tween 1 80 1 and 1808. He faid, more- 
over, that it was in the theatre, and 
not on the Common, as has been elfe- 
where reprefented. 

It appears that the remarkable 
llory of Deborah Sampfon began to 
be bruited abroad very foon after her 
difcharge from the army, before her 
marriage with Mr. Gannett, and even 
before her relinquifhment of military 
coftume. The Appendix will contain 
a notice of this fmgular cafe, as it was 
publifhed in a New- York paper, and 
afterwards copied into fome papers 
in Maffachufetts. The principal fa6ls 
in her career were thus pubhftied to 
the world in a little more than two 
months after her difcharge from the 
army. Thefe fa6ls could only have 
been derived from the officers to 
v/hom the difclofure was originally 
made ; perhaps from Gen. Patter- 
fon himfelf The fads were fo re- 
markable, that there was a ftrong- in- 
ducement to give them to the public. 
Their publication in Maffachufetts 
muft have awakened inquiry refpe6t- 
ing the heroine, and perhaps led the 
way to her difclofmg the whole ftory 
to the author of " The Female Re- 
view." 

Immediately following the extraft 
to which we have juft referred, is the 



certificate of Col. Henry Jackfon, 
which further authenticates the cafe. 
A certified copy of it is on file in the 
office of the Secretary of the Com- 
monwealth. 

The following notice of Deborah 
Sampfon appeared in print feveral 
years before her death. It is taken 
from "The Dedham Regiller" of De- 
cember, 1820, and was copied into 
many of the papers of the day : — 

" We were much gratified to learn, 
that, during the fitting of the court in 
this town the pafi; week, Mrs. Gan- 
nett, of Sharon, in this county, pre- 
fented for renewal her claims for 
fervices rendered her country as a 
foldier in the Revolutionary army. 
The following brief fketch, it is pre- 
fumed, will not be uninterefting : 
This extraordinary woman is now in 
the fixty-fecond year of her age : fhe 
poffeffes a clear underftanding, and a 
general knowledge of paffing events ; 
is fluent in fpeech, and delivers her 
fentiments in corre6l language, with 
deliberate and meafured accent ; is 
eafy in her deportment, affable in her 
manners, robufl: and mafcuhne in her 
appearance. She was about eighteen 
years of age when our Revolutionary 
ftruggle commenced. The patriotic 
fentiments which infpired the heroes 
of thofe days, and urged them to bat- 
tle, found their way to a female bofom. 
The news of the carnage which had 
taken place on the plains of Lexing- 
ton had reached her dweUing ; the 
found of the cannon at the battle of 



230 THEFEMALE 

fhe found difficulty in its performance. Whether this 



Bunker Hill had vibrated on her 
ears ; yet, inftead of diminifhing her 
ardor, it only ferved to increafe her 
enthufiafm in the facred caufe of 
liberty, in which fhe beheld her coun- 
try engaged. She privately quitted 
her peaceful home and the habiliments 
of her fex, and appeared at the head- 
quarters of the American army as a 
young man, anxious to join his efforts 
to thofe of his countrymen in their 
endeavors to oppofe the inroads and 
encroachments of the common enemy. 
She was received and enrolled in the 
army by the name of Robert Shurt- 
liffe. For the fpace of three years, 
fhe performed the duties, and endured 
the hardfhips and fatigues of a foldier ; 
during which time, fhe gained the 
confidence of her officers by her ex- 
pertnefs and precifion in the manual 
exercife, and by her exemplary con- 
du6l. She was a volunteer in feveral 
hazardous enterprifes, and was twice 
wounded by mufket-balls. So well 
did fhe contrive to conceal her fex, 
that her companions in arms had* not 
the leaft fufpicion that the " blooming 
foldier" fighting by their fide was a 
female ; till at length a fevere wound, 
which fhe received in battle, and 
which had well-nigh clofed her earth- 
ly career, occafioned the difcovery. 
On her recovery, fhe quitted the ar- 
my, and became intimate in the fami- 
lies of Gen. Wafhington and other 
diftinguifhed officers of the Revolu- 
tion. A few years afterwards, fhe was 



married to her prefent husband, and 
is now the mother of feveral children. 
Of thefe fads there can be no doubt. 
There are many living witneffes in 
this county, who recognized her on 
her appearance at court, and were 
ready to attefl to her fervices. We 
often hear of fuch heroines in other 
countries ; but this is an inflance in 
our own country, and within the circle 
of our acquaintance." 

It will be obferved that the forego- 
ing account confirms and authenti- 
cates the general ftatements made in 
this volume. There are fome errors 
of detail, which might eafily creep 
into an account like this, where per- 
fe6l accuracy was not demanded. The 
ftatement that Mrs. Gannett ferved 
three years as a foldier, originated, no 
doubt, from the fad that fhe e7tlijied 
for three years, though her a6tual 
length of fervice was much lefs. 

Under date of June 25, 1859, ^^^v. 
Stillman Pratt, of Middleborough, 
wlio had become interefted in her 
hiflory, writes : — 

"In my recent vifit to Sharon, I 
fpent fome time at the refidence and 
by the grave of Mrs. Deborah Gan- 
nett, formerly Deborah Sampfon. 
The houfe was built by Mrs. Gannett, 
her husband, and his only fon, about 
fifty years ago, with brick ends, the 
refidue of wood. It is two ftories 
high. The weftern portion is literally 
embowered with willow-trees, one of 
which was fet out by Deborah her- 



REVIEW. 231 

was done voluntarily, or compulfively, is to me an enig- 



felf, and now meafures twelve feet in 
circumference, and almoft conftitutes 
a grove of itfelf. The eaftern portion 
is covered by a woodbine, which ex- 
tends over the roof, and climbs to the 
top of the chimney. Rofe-buihes and 
other flowering fhrubs are interfperfed 
with perennial plants. The barn 
ftands dire6lly back of the houfe ; in 
the rear of which rifes a fugar-loaf 
mound, of peculiar afjDeft, extending 
back towards a denfe foreft. 

"The farm confifts of a hundred 
acres of land, with every poffible 
variety of foil. The mowing lands 
are irrigated by artificial ftreams of 
water, branching off in all directions, 
and difcharging themfelves into a 
fmall river below. In the hedges, 
and along the walls, are rafpberry and 
barberry bullies ; while fruit and fhade 
trees are promifcuoufly mingled 
through the fields. 

" One mile fouth of this refidence 
is located the old cemetery. On the 
tenth row from the entrance are three 
plain flate-ftone flabs, commemora- 
tive of the laft refting-place of Mr. 
and Mrs. Gannett, and of Capt. Earl 
B. Gannett, their only fon." 

A friend of the pubUfhers of this 
volume has lately vifited the fpot, and 
has enabled them to furnifh the repre- 
fentation of thefe funeral monuments, 
which will be found on the following 
leaf. 

After Mrs. Gannett's death, the 
following notice appeared in " Niles's 



Weekly Regifter," vol. xxxii,, p. 217, 
Baltimore, May 26, 1827 : — 

"A Female Veteran. — The Ded- 
ham Regifter ftates that Mrs. De- 
borah Gannett, wife of Mr. Benjamin 
Gannett, of Sharon, Mafs., died on the 
19th [29th] ult. She enUfted as a 
volunteer in the American army of 
the Revolution, in the Maffachufetts 
corps, having the drefs and appear- 
ance of a foldier. She continued in 
the fervice until the end of the war, 
three years, fuftaining an unfullied 
character, and performing the duties 
of a foldier with more than ordinary 
alertnefs and courage, having been 
twice dangeroufly wounded ; though 
fhe preferved her fex undifcovered. 
At the disbanding of the army, Ihe 
received an honorable difcharge, and 
returned to her relatives in Maffachu- 
fetts, ftill in her regimentals. When 
her cafe was made known to the gov- 
vernment of that State, her full wages 
were paid, and a confiderable bounty 
added. Congrefs allowed her a pen- 
fion, which fhe regularly received. 
Soon after ftie re fumed the fphere of 
her own fex, fhe was married to Mr. 
Gannett, an induftrious, refpeClable 
farmer. She has borne and reared 
him a reputable family of children ; 
and to the clofe of life fhe has merited 
the character of an amiable wife, a 
tender mother, a kind and* exemplary 
neighbor, and a friend of her country. 

" Mr. H. Mann, of Dedham, pub- 
lifhed a memoir of her Hfe fome time 



232 THE FEMALE REVIEW. 

ma. But llie continues a phenomenon among the revo- 
lutions of her fex. 



fince, of which the whole edition, 1500 
copies, has been entirely fold. Another 
edition may be foon expe6led, en- 
larged and improved, which will pro- 
bably meet a rapid fale." 

This obituary notice was undoubt- 
edly written by Mr. Mann himfelf; 
who, if not the editor, was, I believe, 
a principal contributor to the " Ded- 
ham Regifter " at that time. Some 
of the expreffions in this obituary no- 
tice, ufed in fumming up her charac- 
ter, are identical with fome which are 
employed for the fame purpofe in the 
MS. memoir, from which I have fo 
often quoted. And this very MS. 
memoir, now in my poffeffion, is, be- 
yond queftion, the document referred 
to in the laft fentence quoted above 
from " The Regifter." 

The pubhihers of the prefent edition 
having determined to iflue an exa6t 
reprint of " The Female Review," it 



was a matter of neceffity to reproduce 
every fentence and every expreffion, 
however faulty in point of tafte, and 
obje6lionable in refpe6t of moral fen- 
timent. There are many paffages, 
there are entire paragraphs, which 
the prefent editor would gladly have 
omitted. Many expreffions are awk- 
ward and ungainly, and do not truly 
reprefent the author's own meaning. 
For the infertion of fuch paffages, the 
editor muft not be held refponfible. 
To have attempted any thing in the 
way of countera6lion would have been 
worfe than ufelefs. 

The editor is of opinion that Debo- 
rah Sampfon was worthy of an abler 
biographer than Ihe found in the 
original compiler, and that her adven- 
tures, which were certainly very re- 
markable, were worthy of being relat- 
ed in far better ftyle. j. a. v. 

Boston, July, 1866. 



\ '^.JK^}^^^%^^]^^]^.^K^\<^.^yK^ 



APPENDIX. 



Containing — Characteristic Traits and Reflections, 
wM Remarks on Domestic Education and Economy. 

AFTER deliniating the life of a perfon, it feems nat- 
ural to recapitulate, in a clofer affemblage, the 
leading features of his charadter. 

Perhaps, a fpirit of enterprize, perfeverance and com- 
petition was never more diftinguifhable in a female, than 
in Mifs Sampson. And whilil we are furprifed that fhe 
left her own tranquil fphere for the mofl perilous — the 
field of war, we mull acknowledge, it is, at leafl, a cir- 
cumftantial link in the chain of our illuflrious revolution. 
She never would accept a promotion while in the army ; 
though it is faid, fhe was urged to take a Lieutenant's 
commiffion. 

I WILL here give an inftance of her dread of rivalfliip. 
It was foon after flie inlifled. — Having been reluftantly 
drawn into a ring of wreftling, flie was worfled ; though 
it is faid, fhe flung a number. But the idea of a competi- 
tor deprived her of fleep the whole night.----Let this be a 
memento to Columbia's daughters ; that they may be- 
ware of too violent fcuffles with our fex. We are ath- 
letic, haughty and unconquerable. Befides, your diflo- 
cated limbs are a piteous fight ! — And it feems this was a 
warning to her : For it was noted by the foldiers, that 



236 APPENDIX. 

flie never wreftled, nor fuffered any one to twine his 
arms about her flioulders ; as was their cuftom when 
walking. 

And left her courage has not been fufficiently demon- 
ftrated, I will adduce one more inflance, that muft fur- 
pafs all doubt. — In 1782, flie was fent from Weft Point, 
on bufmefs, to a place called the Clove, back of the 
high hills of Santee. She rode Capt. Phelon's horfe. 
On her return, jufl at the clofe of twilight, flie was fur- 
prifed by two ruffians, who ruflied haftily from a thicket, 
feized her horfe's bridle, and demanded her money, or 
her life. She was armed with a brace of piftols and a 
hanger. Looking at the one, who held the horfe, fhe 

faid, " y, B , / think I know you ; and this moment 

you become a dead man, if you perjijl in your demand I " 
Hearing a piftol cock at the fame time, his compeer 
fled ; and he begged quarters and forgivenefs ; which 
flie granted, on condition of a folemn promife, ever to 
defift from fo defperate an action. 

It is, perhaps, fufficiently authenticated, that flie pre- 
ferved her chaflity, by a rare afflduity to conceal her fex. 
Females can beft conceive inconveniences to which flie 
was fubjedl. But as I know not, that flie ever gratified 
any one with the wondrous eclairciffement, I can only 
fay, perhaps, what more have heard, than experienced — 
" Want prompts the wit, and firji gave birth to arts'.' If 
it be true, and if — " A moment of concealment is a mo- 
ment of humiliation ; " as an anonymous writer of her 
fex obferves, flie has humility enough to bow to the 
flirine of modefly, and to appear without difguife, from 
top to toe. 



APPENDIX. 237 

Since writing thefe flieets, I have been pained for a 
few, efpecially females, who feem tmwilling to beHeve, 
that a female went through three campaigns, without 
the difcovery of her fex; and confequently, the lofs of 
virgin purity * 

We hear but Httle of an open proftitute in the army, 
or elfe where — of Collin and Dolly, the milk maid, in 
their evening fauntering to the meadow. Then why 
fliould any be fo fcrupulous of her, becaufe flie did not 
go in the profeffed chara6ler of a foldier's trull ! Though 
it is faid, flie was an uncommonly modeft foldier; yet, 
like you, I am ready to aver, fhe has made a breach in 
female delicacy. But bring forth her fallacious preten- 
fions to virtue ; and I am bound, as a moralift, to record 
them — as vices, to be guarded againft. I have only to 
deiire this clafs of my readers to think as favorable as 
poffible of our fex ; but, on all accounts, to cherifli the 
lovely fugitive — virhte, in their own. For, too much fuf- 
picion of another's, argues, too ftrongly, a want of the 
fame charming ornament in themfelves ; unlefs they are 
old maids, or bachelors. 

I SHALL here make a fmall digreffion. — As our Hero- 
ine was walking the ftreets in Philadelphia, in a beauti- 
ful, ferene evening, flie was raviflied by the fweet, pen- 
five notes of a pianoforte. Looking up at a third loft 

'^ "She had no beard^^ is an obje6lion, to which, I know not, that this 
clafs of readers can be reconciled. — A chaplain, fince known in Maffa- 
chufetts, was once at Gen. Patterfon's quarters. In the prefence of his 
fmockfaced attendant, he took occafion to compliment the General — " I 
admire your fare ; but nothing more, than your very polite attendant ; 
who appears to poffefs the graceful a6tivity and bloom of a girl." 



238 APPENDIX. 

fhe difcovered a young female, who feemed every way 
expreffive of the mufic fhe made. She often after lifl- 
ened to the fame founds; and was as often furprifed, that 
a figh fliould be blended with fuch exquifite harmony and 
beauty. — Of this female, I will tranfmit to my readers 
the following pathetic hiftory. 

Fatima was the eldefl of three daughters ; whofe par- 
ents had acquired an ample fortune, and refided in a part 
of the United States, w^here nature flieds her bleffmgs in 
profufe abundance. But, unhappily, their conduft to- 
wards them was diflinguiflied, like that of others, whofe 
fondnefs fo infinitely exceeds their prudence. They were 
not, however, deficient in many external accomplifliments. 
Early was Fatima taught to fpeak prettily, rather than 
properly ; to admire what is brilliant, inflead of what is 
folid ; to ftudy drefs and pink alamode ; to be a6tive at 
her toilet, and much there; to dance charmingly at a 
ball, or farcical entertainment ; to form hafi:y and mifcel- 
laneous connexions ; to fhow a beautiful face, and figh for 
admiration ; — in fhort, to be amufed, rather than infl:ru6l- 
ed ; but at lafl: — to difcover an ill accompliflied mind ! 
This is beauty in a maze. Such occupations filled up 
her juvenile years. Her noblefi: proficiencies were mufic, 
drawing, &c, but an injudicious choice of books exclu- 
ded their influence, if they had any, from her mind. 
Thus we may conclude her courfe of education led her 
to fet the greatefl: efiimate on this external new kind of 
creature ; whilfi; her internal fource — her immortal part, 
remained, as in a fog, or like a gem in a tube of adamant. 

Nature had been lavifli in the formation of Fatima. 
And on her firfi; appearance, one mufl: have been ftrong- 



APPENDIX. 239 

ly impreffed in her favor. But what fays the fequel ? — 
The invigorating influence of Venus had fcarcely warmed 
her bofom, when, towards the clofe of a beautiful, foft 
day, in her rural excurfion, flie firft beheld Philander; 
who had become a gleaner in her father's fields. A mu- 
tual impulfe of paffions, till then unfelt, fired their bof- 
oms : For Philander was much indebted to nature for a 
polifhed form ; and fomething uncommonly attra6ling in 
his looks, feemed to veil the negle6l of his mind. Unfor- 
tunate youth ! His parents were poor : and to add to 
his mifery, they had deprived him of their only, and yet 
molt important, legacy — I mean, the cultivation of his 
mind. Had not this been his lot, he might have made 
himfelf rich and Fatima happy. 

After this, Fatima's chief delight was — to walk in 
the fields, to fee her father's flock, and to lifl;en to the 
pipe of Philander. Repeated interviews brought them 
more acquainted with each other. Each attempted to 
fl;eal the luftre of the eye and the crimfon blufh ; which 
a too wajrm conflitution could ill conceal. At length, an 
unreferved familiarity took place. Both had been taught 
to love ; and both had miffed Plato's and Urania's fyf- 
tem, which fliould have taught them — how, Fatima 
durfl: not let her parents know, that a peafant poffeffed 
her virginal love. She, therefore, under pretence of re- 
galing herfelf in the garden, often referved the keys, 
that fecured its avenues: and whilfl: the dew diftilled its 
penfive fweets, the fequeflered alcove, or embowered 
grafs plat, too often witneffed their lambent amours. 

One night — a night that mufl; ever remain horrible to 
their remembrance, and which fliould be obliterated from 



240 APPENDIX. 

the annals of time — Fatima fat at the window of her apart- 
ment, to behold, rather than contemplate, the beauties of 
the evening. The hamlet was at reft, when flie difcov- 
ered Philander paffmg in the flreet. Her difJiabille too 
plainly difclofed her charms, when flie haflened with the 
fatal key to the garden gate; where Philander had juft 
arrived. The maffy door having grated upon its hinges, 
they walked a number of times through the bowling- 
green, till at length, almofl imperceptibly, they found 
themfelves at the door, that led to Fatima's apartment. 
— The clock ftruck twelve, when they tip-toed through 
a number of windings, till they arrived at the chamber ; 
which, till then, had been an afylum for the virginity of 
Fatima. 

It is needlefs to paint the fcenes, that fucceeded. A 
taper, flie had left burning on her fcrutoire, with the rays 
of the moon, reflected a dim light on the rich furniture 
of the room, and on the alcove ; in which lay, for the lafl 
time, the tranquil Fatima! But this light, feeble as it 
was, difclofed to Philander a thoufand new charms in 
the fafcinating fpedacle of fo much love and beauty.- Sen- 
fuality took the lead of every reafoning faculty; and both 
became inflrumental to their own deflrudion. Philan- 
der became a total flave to his paffions. He could no 
longer revere the temple of chaftity. He longed to erefl: 
his fatal triumph on the ruins of credulous virtue. He 
faw nothing but what ferved to inflame his pafflons. His 
eyes rioted in forbidden delights. And his warm em- 
braces kindled new fires in the bofom of this beauteous 
maid. — The night was fllent as death : not a zephyr was 



APPENDIX. 241 

heard to ruftle in the leaves below — but Heaven was a 
recording witnefs to their criminal pleafures ! 

The loft Fatima beheld her brutal raviflier with hor- 
ror and diftraction. But from that fatal moment, his 
enthufiaftic love cooled ; and he fhunned her private 
receffes and public haunts. Fatima, to avoid the indig- 
nation of her parents, eloped from them. Her eyes were 
opened ! Many were her wearifome fteps to find an afy- 
lum from that guilt, which, through her parents' negleft, 
fhe incurred on herfelf In vain did flie lament, that 
fome piteous cherub had not preferved her to a more 
propitious fate — that flie had not been doomed to a cloif- 
tered convent, to have made an eternal vow of celibacy, 
to have proftrated herfelf to wooden ftatues, to have 
kiffed the feet of monks and to have pined away her 
life in folitude ! — Thus flie continues to mourn the lofs 
of that happinefs, fhe lofl through negle6l of education. 

Fatima was in her female attire — our Heroine was a 
foldier. And I fliould facrifice many tender feelings to 
prefer, to my fair readers — the fituation of either. 

I CONFESS, I might juftly be thought a monfter to the 
female fex, were I willing to fuggefl, that her original 
motive was the company of the venal fycophant, the 
plotting knave, the difgufting, ugly debauchee : or that 
her turning volunteer in Columbia's caufe, was a medi- 
tated plot againfl her own fex. Oh ! this would be too 
cruel. — Cuftom is the dupe of fancy : nor can we fcarcely 
conceive what may not be reliflied, till the fugitive has 
worn out every fliift. But let us remember, though it 
conflitutes our efleem and reverence, it does not, always, 
our prudence and propriety. A high cut robe, for in- 
31 



242 APPENDIX. 

ftance, though it may agreeably feaft the imagination, 
may not prove the moil prudent garb for every fair ob- 
jedl, who wears it. But in the afylum of female protec- 
tion, may I not be thought their meaneft votary, fliould 
not a humble ejaculation prevent every robe-wearer from 
being led 

" O'er infant innocence — to hang and weep, 
Murder'd by ruffian hands — when fmihng in its fleep ! " 

It need not be afked, whether a proper union of 
the fexes is recommendable and juft. Nature claims 
this as her primogenial and indiffoluble bond : And 
national cuflom efbablifhes the mode. But to mention 
the intercourfe of our Heroine with her fex, would, like 
others more dangerous, require an apology I know not 
how to make. It muft be fuppofed, flie a6led more 
from neceffity, than a voluntary impulfe of paffion ; and 
no doubt, fucceeded beyond her expe61ations, or defires. 
Harmlefs thing ! An ufeful veteran in war ! — An inofifen- 
five companion in love ! Thefe are certainly requifites, 
if not virtues. They are always the foldier's glory ; but 
too feldom his boaft. Had fhe been capacitated and in- 
clined to prey, like a vulture, on the innocence of her 
fex ; vice might have hurried vice, and tafte have created 
appetition. Thus, flie would have been lefs entitled to 
the clemency of the public. For individual crimes bring 
on public nuifances and calamities : And debauchery is 
one of the firft. But incapacity, which feldom begets 
defire, muft render her, in this refpeft, unimpeachable. 

Remember, females, I am your advocate ; and, like you, 
would pay my devoirs to the Goddefs of love. Admit 



APPENDIX. 243 

that you conceived an attachment for a female foldier. 
What is the harm ? She afted in the department of that 
fex, whofe embraces you naturally feek. From a like 
circumftance, we are liable to the fame impulfe. Love is 
the ruling di6late of the foul. — But viewing Venus in all 
her influential charms — did flie gain too great an afcen- 
dancy over that virtue, which fliould guard the receptacle 
of your love } Did the dazzling enchantrefs, after fafci- 
nating you in her wilds, inhumanly leave you in a fitua- 
tion — ready to yield the pride and ornament of your fex 
— your white robed innocence, a facrifice to lawlefs luft 
and criminal pleafure ! — I congratulate the fair obje6l, 
whoever fhe was, and rejoice with her moft fmcerely, that 
fhe happily miflook Xh^ ferocity of the lion, for the harm- 
leffnefs of the lamb I You have thus, wonderfully, efcaped 
the fatal rock, on which fo many of both fexes (it wounds 
me to repeat it!) have made fhipwreck of this inefti- 
mable prize. You have thus preferved inviolate, your 
coronet of glory, your emblematic diadem of innocence, 
friendfliip, love, and beauty — the pride of your fex — the 
defpair and envy of the diffolute incendiary! This is 
your virginity — that chaflity which is fuch an additional 
ornament to beauty. 

The fun, with all his eclat, which has fo often gone 
down on your innocence, fhall continue to rife with in- 
creafmg beauty, and give you frefh fatisfaftion and de- 
light. Taunt, invedlive and calumny may ftorm ; and, 
tho' you may dread, you may defy, their rage. — But 
what will be a ftill greater fource of comfort, old reflec- 
tion fhall not awfully flare you in the face on your bridal 
day : nor remorfe fteal an imperceptible courfe into your 



244 APPENDIX. 

bofoms ; nor, as with the fcorpion's dagger, wound your 
tendereft place. Inflead of a girdle of thorns, the ama- 
ranthine wreath fliall encircle you, and the banners of 
friendfliip, love and tranquillity fhall ever hover over you- 
Whilft others, guilty of a breach in this emblem of para- 
dife, may efcape with impunity the deferved lafli of afper- 
fion from a chafte husband, (for there may be chafte men 
as well as chafte women) you fliall be prefented to your 
partner of life, an obje6l uncontaminated from the hands 
of your Creator. And next to the Giver of all good, he 
fliall extatically hold you in his embraces, and efteem you 
as the objedl of his fupreme affeftions. 

As the pure and brilliant dew-drop on the rofe and lilly 
gathers their fragrance ; as the furface of the limpid flream 
outfpreads its azure flow for curious inveftigation : So, 
fliall your words and actions be received by all who are 
round about you. Your children, as coming from an un- 
polluted fource, fhall rife up and call you bleffed. And 
whilft the dupe and rude in thought fhall deign to bow 
at your fhrine, your worth fliall daily be enhanced in your 
husband's eftimation. He fliall not forget to heap enco- 
miums on your merit, when he fits among the primogen- 
iture of the land. A mutual exchange and increafe of 
affedlion will be perpetuated to you, through a long feries 
of fatisfadlory enjoyments — even till fecond childiflinefs 
fteals upon you, and till time itfelf diffolves your earthly 
compaft, and feals you in the duft. Heaven, the refiden- 
tiary manfion of blifs, for the faithful and pure, will, at 
laft, condefcend to crown you with a rich reward for your 
fervices, for your integrity and virtue. — Females, Adieu! 

Columbia demands our review. — To ftretch the memory 



APPENDIX. 245 

to the momentous epoch, when the optics of fage Colum- 
bus, firft lighted on the American fhores, and to trace the 
mazy clue of her annals, from a favage wildernefs to the 
prefent period, when ihe ftands confeffed, a new Jlar 
among the nations of the earth — an elyfian field of beauty, 
mufl feaft the intelle6lual fyftem with every idea, perhaps 
of pain and pleafure. When we remember the fweat of 
the brow in the culture of her once flubborn glebe, our 
encounters with the tomahawk, and with the more formid- 
able weapons of death in our late revolution ; the breaft 
muft be callous to fenfation, that does not own the privi- 
leges and felicity, to which we are now exalted, have been 
bought at a rate, dear enough to be inftru6live. 

We have moulded a conflitutional government, at our 
option. It alfo guarantees to us the privilege of making 
amendments : and under its continued aufpices, what 
good may we not anticipate ? Scarcely three hundred 
years have rolled away, fince America was a folitary haunt 
for favages and beafls. But behold, now, under the fof- 
tering hands of induftry and economy, how flie fmiles ; 
even from the magnificence of the city, paffing the plea- 
fant country villas, to the mofs-covered cot ! The fun of 
fcience is gleaming on her remoteft corners ; and his 
penetrating rays are faft illuminating the whole empire of 
reafon. — Hail, then, thou happy, radiant source of beauty! 
— Our progrefs has, indeed, been rapid : Heaven grant it 
may be lafi:ing. 

O war, thou worft; of fcourges ! Whilfl: we hear of thy 
depredations, which are now laying Europe in blood and 
aflies — indeed, Columbia, we think of you ! And is there 
any, who are ignorant of the honors of war, and thirfl for 



246 APPENDIX. 

the gratification ? Let fuch be cautious of their propen- 
fities. You have heard, I fuppofe, that an Emperor, 
Cardinal, or a gracious, fable-headed Pope, has iffued an 
edi6l, laying claim to a certain territory, to which, no 
body ever miftrufted he was entitled. But the nation has 
turned infidels to his creed; and though he is a man of 
infult, he is not to be infulted. — He collefts his forces, 
and marches to glory ; kills millions, gains his conqueft, 
renews his quarrels and puts others to the fword. His 
men are called vetetans ! What are ours called.^ — A 
youth, a female, a young nymph may tell. 

And muft the fcourge of war again cafi: a gloom over 
Columbia's beauteous furface } Mufl infernal furies, from 
diftant regions, confpire her ruin 1 Shall her own sons, 
forgetful of that happinefs they have purchafed fo dearly, 
unmindful of an infinite variety of alluring objeds, that 
furround them, grow wanton in luxury and indolence, 
and thirfl, like tygers, to imbrue their hands in the blood 
of any of the human race ? God forbid ! For in that 
day, the beafi; fliall again retire to his lair ; the bird fliall 
clap its well fledged wing, and bear itfelf acrofs the ocean ; 
(Heaven grant it there may have a chance to land!) 
and the fifli fliall lie in torpitude, or refufe the angler's 
bait — but all, looking up to that fublime and exalted 
creature, man, bewail the time he had rule given over 
them ! 

But, Columbia, this muft never be faid of your progeny. 
It has been neceffary they fliould encounter the bitters — 
the catamities of war. It now remains, that they tajie and 
long preferve the fweets of prof per ity. The fylvan bard 
fliall compofe for you, his canzonets and roundelays : And 



APPENDIX. 247 

the minflrel fliall rehearfe them to his tranquil audience, 
in your filent, green-wood fliade. From the city, the 
failor fhall quit your beauteous fhores with relu6lance and 
with a figh. And while old ocean is heaving his barque 
from his home, as your leffening turrets bluely fade to his 
view ; he fliall climb the maft — and while he is fnatching 
a fond review, refleftion fhall feaft his memory with every 
pleafurable and penfive fenfation. And though feparated 
from his natal clime by oceans, climes and nations ; his 
choiceft hopes and wifiies fliall dwell in his native land. 



// remains^ to aMthe7iticate the faH^s afferted. — The fol- 
lowing firjl appeared in a New York paper, from which it 
was copied in others, in MaJ/achufetts, 

New York, January 10, 1784. 
AN extraordinary inftance oi virtue in a female sol- 
dier, has occurred, lately in the American army, in the 
Maffachufetts line, viz. a lively, comely young nymph, nine- 
teen years of age, dreffed in man's apparel, has been dif- 
covered ; and what redounds to her honor, fhe has ferved 
in the character of a foldier for nearly three years, undif- 
covered. During this time, llie difplayed much alertnefs, 
chaflity and valor : having been in feveral engagements, 
and received two wounds — a fmall fliot remaining in her 
to this day. — She was a remarkable, vigilant foldier on 
her pofl ; always gained the applaufe of her officers — was 
never found in liquor, and always kept company with the 
mofi; temperate and upright foldiers. — For feveral months, 
this Gallantrefs ferved, with credit, in a General Officer's 



248 APPENDIX. 

family. A violent illnefs, when the troops were at Phila- 
delphia, led to the difcovery of her fex. She has fmce 
been honorably difcharged from the Army, with a re- 
ward,"^ and fent to her connexions ; who, it appears, live 
to the Eaflward of Bofton, at a place, called Meduncook, 

The caufe of her perfonating a man, it is faid, pro- 
ceeded from the rigor of her parents, who exerted their 
prerogative to induce her marriage with a young gentle- 
man, againft whom, flie had conceived a great antipathy ; 
together with her being a remarkable heroine and warmly 
attached to the caufe of her country : In the fervice of 
which, it muft be acknowledged, fhe gained reputation ; 
and, no doubt, will be noticed in the hiftory of our grand 
revolution. — She paffed by the name of Robert Shurt- 
LiEFF, while in the army, and was borne on the rolls as 
fuch. — For particular reafons, her name is witheld : But 
the fadls, above mentioned, are unqueftionable and un- 
blemiflied. 

Boston, Au^uji \, 1786. 

To all whom it may concer^t. 

These may certify, that Robert Shurtlieff was a 
Soldier in my Regiment, in the Continental Arm,y, for the 
town of Uxbridge in the Commonwealth of Maffachufetts, 
and was inlifled for the term of three years — that he had 
the confidence of his Officers, did his duty, as a faithful 
and good Soldier, and was honorably difcharged the 
Army of the United States. 

Henry Jackson, late CoL 
in the Americaii Army. 

* This (he has not received. — Editor. [If. Mann.'] 



APPENDIX. 249 

Resolve of the General Court — January 20, 1792. 

ON the petition of Deborah Gannet, praying com- 
penfation for fervices performed in the late Army of the 
United States : 

WHEREAS it appears to this Court, that the faid 
Deborah Gannet inhfted under the name of 
Robert Shurtlieff, in Capt. Webb's company in the 
fourth Maffachufetts regiment, on May 21, 1782, and did 
i aftually perform the duties of a foldier, in the late Army 
of the United States, to the 23 day of Odober, 1783 ; for 
which, file has received no compenfation. And whereas 
it further appears, that the faid Deborah exhibited an ex- 
traordinary inflance oi female heroifm, by difcharging the 
duties of a faithful, g2i\\d.nt foldier ; and at the fame time, 
preferved the virtue and chafiity of her fex, unfufpeded 
and unblemiflied, and was difcharged from the fervice, 
with a fair and honorable chara6ler. 

Therefore, refolved, that the Treafurer of this Com- 
monwealth be, and hereby is direded to iffue his note, to 
faid Deborah, for the fum of thirty four pounds, bearing 
intereft from OH^ober 23, 1783. 



As it is nothing ftrange, that any girl iliould be mar- 
ried, and have children ; it is not to be expeded, that one, 
diftinguiflied, like Mifs Sampson, fliould efcape. The 
greateft diftindion lies in the qualification for this impor- 
tant bufinefs. And, perhaps, the greateft requifite for 
education is — complete union with the parties, both in 
theory and pradice. This is remarkably verified in the 
32 



2 50 APPENDIX. 

party fpirits that bring on wars and public calamities. 
They extend to the remote fire fide. 

It is hear-fay, that Mrs. Gannet refufes her husband 
the rites of the marriage bed. She mufl, then, conde- 
fcend to fmile upon him in the filent alcove, or grafs plat; 
as flie has a child, that has fcarcely left its cradle. It is 
poffible, Ihe experiences, not only corporal but mental in- 
abilities ; and in mercy to her generation, would keep it 
in non-exiftence. — But this is not the part of a biographer. 
I am forry to learn, this is moflly female complaint ; and 
not authentic : For her neareft neighbors affert, there is 
a mutual harmony fubfifling between her and her com- 
panion ; which, by the bye, is generally the reverfe with 
thofe deprived of this hymenial blifs. All who are ac- 
quainted with her, mufl acknowledge her complaifant and 
humane difpofitions. And while fhe difcovers a tafte for 
an elegant flile of living ; fhe exhibits, perhaps, an unufual 
degree of contentment, with an honeft farmer, and three 
endearing children, confined to a homely cot, and a hard- 
earned little farm. 

She is fometimes employed in a fchool in her neigh- 
borhood. And her firfl maxim of the government of 
children is implicit obedience, I cannot learn, fhe has the 
leaft wifh to ufurp the prerogatives of our fex. For, fhe 
has often faid, that nothing appears more beautiful in the 
domejlic round, than when the husband takes the lead, 
with difcretion, and is followed by his confort, with an 
amiable acquiefcence. She is, however, of opinion, that 
thofe women, who threaten their children with, " / will 
tell your father' — of a crime, they fliould corredl, is infuf- 
ing into them a fpirit of triumph, they fhould never know. 



APPENDIX. 251 

The cultivation of humanity and good nature is the grand 
bufinefs of education. And fhe has feen the ill effefts of 
fighting, enough, to know the neceffity of fparing clubs 
and cuffs at home. The fame good temper, we would 
form in our offspring, fhould be exhibited in ourfelves. 
We fhould neither ufe our children as ftrangers ; nor as 
the mere tools of fanciful fport. All tampering and loofe 
words with them, are, like playing, careleffly, with the 
lion or tiger, who will take advantage of our folly. — In 
fhort, inflrudions fhould be infufed, as the dew diftils ; 
and difcipline, neither rigid, nor tyrannic, fhould reft, like 
a flable pillar. 

How great — how facred are our obligations to our off- 
fpring ! Females, who are the vehicles, by which they 
are brought into the world, cannot confider, too ferioufly, 
the fubjeft. Let it not be delayed, then, till that love, 
which coalefces the fexes, produces an obje6l for experi- 
ment. Form a pre-afifeftion for the fweet innocent, while 
in embryo — that it may be cherifhed, with prudence, 
when brought to view. And may we never have it to 
lament — that while any females contemplate, with abhor- 
rence, a female, who voluntarily engages in the field of 
battle — they forget to recoil at the idea of coming off vic- 
torious from battles, fought by their own domeflic — fire- 
fides ! We have now feen the diftinftion of one female. 
May it flimulate others to fhine — in the way, that virtue 
prefcribes. 

THE END. 



LIST of suck SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES for this 
Work^ as were returned to the Printers, previoujly to its 
coming from the Prefs, 



R 



A 



.EV. David Avery, Wrentham, 
Col. Philip Ammidon, Mendon. 
Mr. Benjamin Allen, R. I, College. 

Armand Auboyneau, Do. 

Jafon Abbot, Boylfion. 

Oliver Adams, Milford. 

John Whitefield Adams, Medfeld. 

John Wickliffe Adams, Do. 

Charles Aldrich, Mendon. 

Ahaz Allen, Do. 

Seth Allen, Sharon. 

B. 

Mofes Bullen, Efq. Medfield. 

Maj. Noah Butterworth, Wrentham. 

Capt. Eli Bates, Bellingham. 

Do6l. Thomas Bucklin, Hopkinton. 

Mr. Nicholas Bowen, Merchant, Providence. 

George Benfon, Do. Do. 

Liberty Bates, R. I. College. 

John Baldwin, Do. 

Lemuel Le Bararon, Do. 

Allen Bourn, Do. 

Horatio G. Brown, Do. 



254 SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES, 

Mr. Jofeph Brown, Byfield. 
Jafon Babcock, Dedham. 
Eli Blake, Wrentham, 
Ifaac Bennett, Do, 
David Blake, Do. 
Henry S. Bemis, Stoughton, 
George Boyd, Bojlon, 
Amos Boyden, Medfield, 
Baruch Bullard, Uxbridge, 
Ebenezer Bugbee, Roxbury, 

C 

Mr. Nathan Gary, R. I, College, 
Judah A. Mc. Glellen, Do, 
Gains Conant, Do, 
Jofeph B. Gook, Do, 
A fa Gheney, Milford, 
Ichabod Gorbett, Do, 
Luther Gobb, Bellingham, 
John Gobb, Wrentham. 
Jofeph Gleavland, Do. 
Jofeph Gleale, Byfield, 
Jabez Ghickering, jun. Dedham, 
Winflow Gorbett, Mendon, 
George Grane, Stoughton, 
Jofeph Gurtis, Roxbury, 
Galvin Gurtis, Sharon, 

D 

Gapt. Ifaac Doggett, Dedham, 

Lieut. Samuel Day, Wrentham. 

Mr. Andrew Dexter, jun. R, I, College, 



SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 255 

Mr. Paul Dodge, R. I, College, 
James Dupee, Walpole. 
Jofeph Daniels, Merchant, Franklin. 
John Dummer, Byfield, 

E 

Capt. Amos Ellis, Bellingham, * 

Mr. Samuel Ervin, R. /. College, 

James Ervin, Do. 

John Ellis, Dedham. 

Aaron Ellis, Walpole. 

Afa Ellis, jun. Brookjield. 

Ebenezer Eftee, Milford. 

Samuel Elliot, Byfield. 

F 

Hon. Timothy Farrar, New Ipfwich. 

Amariah Froft, Efq. Milford. 
Lieut. Samuel Fuller, Walpole. 
Mr. Theodore D. Fofter, R. I. College. 

Drury Fairbanks, Do. 

Ebenezer Fales, Walpole. 

Suel Fales, Do. 

Shubael Fales, Do. 

Elijah Fifher, Sharon. 

Ebenezer Fofter, Wrentham. 

William B. Fifher, Do. 

G 

Rev. Thomas Gray, Roxbury. 
David S. Grenough, Efq. Do. 
Mr. William Green, R. I. College. 



256 SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 

Mr. Franklin Green, R, / College, 

Ifaac Greenwood, Providence, 

Otis Greene, Mendon, 

Jofeph Gay, Wrentham. 

Ephraim Grove, Bridgewater, 

John Green, Medway. 
Mifs Sufanna Gay, Wrentham, 

H 

Alexander Hodgdon, Efq. Dedham, 
Maj. Samuel Hartfhorn, Walpole. 
Mr. John P. Hitchcock, R, I. College. 

Wafhington Hathaway, Do. 

Samuel Hayward, Milford. 

Nathan Hawes, Wrentham. 

David Hartwell, Stoughton. 

I 

Mr. Thomas P. Ives, Merchant, Providence. 
James Jones, Byfield. 
Phinehas Johnfon, R. I, College. 
Jeffe Joflin, Thompfon. 

K 

Mr. Richard King, Byfield. x 

Afa Kingsbury, Franklin. I 

Ambrofe Keith, Northbridge. \ 

L 

Mr. Grant Learned, Bofion. 

Laban Lewis, Stoughton. 
Mifs Alice Leavens, Walpole. 



SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 257 

M 

Col. Timothy Mann, Walpole, 

Sabin Mann, Medfield. 
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Mr. William P. Maxwell, R. L College. 

Elias Mann, Northampton. 

Windfor Mainard, Mendon. 

Paul Moody, Byfield. 

John Meffmger, jun. Wrentham. 

David Moores, Byfield. 

Lewis Miller, Dedham. 

N 
Mr. John Nelfon, Merchant, Milford. 

O 
Mr. Nathaniel G. Olney, R, L College. 
Mifs Hannah Orne, Bofton. 

P 

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Capt. Abijah Pond, Wrentham. 

Deac. Jacob Pond, Do. 

Mr. Eleazar Perry, Merchant, Hopkinton. 

Samuel Penniman, Milford. 

Jofiah Penniman, Mendon. 

Baruch Penniman, Do. 

Abiel Pettee, Dedham, 

Adam Ward Partridge, Chefierfield 

R 

Benjamin Randall, Efq. Sharon. 

33 



258 SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 

John M. Roberts, A. B. R. I. College, 
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S 
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Capt. John Soule, Middleborough, 6 Copies. 
Mr. John Sabin, R. I. College. 

John Simmons, Do. 

WilHam H. Sabin, Do. 

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A fa Smith, Brookfield. 

Lebbeus Smith, Medfield. 

Samuel Smith, jun. Walpole. 

John Shepard, Foxborough. 

David Southworth, Ward. 

OHver Shepard, Stoughton. \ 

Gordon Strobridge, Northjield, ( Ver.) 
Mifs Lucinda Smith, Norton. 

T 
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Daniel Thurber, Mendon. 
Mr. Alvan Tobey, R. I. College. 

James Tallmadge, jun. Do. 

James Thompfon, Do. 

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U 

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SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 259 

W 
Rev. William Williams, Wrentham, 
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Conrade Webb, Do. 

William H. Williams, Do. 

Witherfpoon, Do. 

Nathaniel Willis, Bojlon. 

Jofeph Ware, Medway. 

Obed Wheelock, Milford. 

Abner Wight, Do. 

Mofes Woodman, Byfield. 
Mifs Hannah Wight, Foxborough. 

ERRATA. 

Page 37. line 23. after I, read JJwidd. and for highly r. meanly. — 
P. 47. 1. 10. for 1756 read 1656. — P. 43. lad line, for 1796 r. 1797. — 
P. 76, 1. 13. after revenue, r. in America. 



<r^g^^^^^^ 



The following were returned too late to be infer ted in order. 



c 



APT. JOHN BLISS, Springfield 
Lieut. Samuel Bolter, Northampton, 
Mr. John Breck, Merchant, Do. 
Mrs. Sarah Chandler, Bofion. 
Jonathan D wight, Att. at Law, Springfield. 
Benjamin A. Edwards, Q. M. Northampton. 
Mr. William Ely, Springfield. 

Daniel Fay, Weftbury. 
Jonathan Grout, Att. at Yu^c^, Belcherfiown. 
Ebenezer Hunt, jun. M. D. Northampton. 
Mr. David Hunt, Merchant, Do. 

Jacob Hunt, Do. 

William Hutchens, Do. 

John W. Hooker, Springfield. 

James Ingols, Northampton. 

Samuel King, jun. Do. 
Levi Lyman, Efq. Do. 
Maj. Samuel Lyman, Do. 
Daniel Lombard, Merchant, Springfield. 
Lieut. Mofes Parfons, jun. Northampton. 
Mr. Seth Pomeroy, Do. 

Nathaniel Patten, Hartford. 
DoGi. George Rogers, Northampton. 
Solomon Stoddard, Efq. Do. 
Mr. Nathan Stores, Do. 

Levi Shepard, Merchant, Do. 

Charles Steele, Bofion. 

Caleb Smith, Hadley. 

Jacob Wicker, Northampton. 



INDEX. 



INDEX 



Alden, John, 46. Sarah, ib. 
Arcade at West Point, 159. 
Assembly's Catechism, 62, loi. 
Austin, Benjamin, xix. 

B. 

Baltimore lady falls in love with R. 
ShurtlifFe, 190; her letter, 192 ; in- 
terview between them, 196, 199; 
another interview and final dis- 
closure, 212-214. 

Barrett, Joseph H., xviii. 

Battle of Lexington and Concord, 85 ; 
of Bunker Hill, 88-94. 

Battles, James, killed, 141. 

Beebe, John, killed, 141. 

Binney, Dr., surgeon of the hospital 
at Philadelphia, discovers Robert 
Shurtliffe to be a woman, 189 ; pro- 
poses a western tour, 195 ; his 
generous conduct, 189, 190, 216, 
217,219. 

Boadicea, xxxi. 

Bourne, Abner, 100. 

Bradford, Ahce, 48, 225 ; Deborah, 
46 ; Ehsha, 47 ; Israel, ib.; Jo- 
seph, ib.; Joshua, ib.; WilHam, 
46, 47. 

Brownell, Mrs., her heroism, xxxi. 

" Buckeye," whence the term, 140. 



C. 

Camp, Rev. Abraham, 102. 

Capture of two British redoubts at 

Yorktown, 150. 
Catechism, the Assembly's, taught, 

62, lOI. 
Charlestown burned, 90. 
Colburn, Jeremiah, xviii. 
Cole, Hannah, 47. 
Conant, Rev. Sylvanus, 62. 
Corbin, Margaret, xxix. 
Cornwallis, Lord, xvi., xxi., xxvi., 

143 ; surrender of, 152. 
Cushman, Benjamin, 51 ; Jacob, ib. 
Cushman, PauHne, her adventures, 

xxxi. 

D. 

Dearborn, Henry, xix. 
DeGrasse, Count, 144. 
Delancy, Col., 139, 169. 
Dewey, Sarah, 133. 
Drake, Samuel G., 124. 
" Dutch Cavalry," encounter with, 
139- 

E. 

Ellet, EHzabeth F., x., xxvii., xxx., 
169; her mistakes, XV., 131, 195,223. 

Ellis, William, his statements re- 
specting Mrs. Gannett, xxii., xxxii. 

Eustis, Dr. William, xxiv. 



264 



INDEX. 



Female heroism, instances of, xxix. - 

xxxi. 
Force, Peter, xxxii. 
Fuller, Rev, Samuel, 102. 

G. 

Gannett, Benjamin, husband of De- 
borah Sampson, xviii.,-xxii., 231 ; 
pedigree of, 227 ; his grave-stone^ 
233- 

Gannett, Caleb, 227. 

Gannett, Earl B., 227; his grave-stone, 
233. 

Gannett, Rev. Ezra S., 227. 

Gardner, Col. Thomas, mortally 
wounded at Bunker Hill, 94. 

Glover, Gen. John, 140. 

Grave-stones of Mr. and Mrs. Gan- 
nett and their son, 233. 

Gould, Jeremiah, xxii. 

H. 

Haerlem, 139. 

Hale, Mrs. Sarah J., x, 

Hamhn, Eifrican, xxiv. 

Hancock, John, his autograph, xxv. 

Hitchborn, Benjamin, xxiv. 

Hobart, Rev. Peter, 47. 

Hunt, Rev. Asa, 102. 

I. 

Instances of female heroism, xxix. - 
xxxi. 

J. 
Jackson, Col. Henry, xvi., xviii., xxi., 
xxiv., XXV., 133 ; account of him, 
142 ; his certificate in favor of R. 
Shurtleflf, xxv., 248. 



J- 

Jackson, William, xxii. 
Jane of Montfort, xxxi. 
Joan of Arc, xxxi. 

K. 
Knox, Gen. Henry, xxiv., 223. 

L. 

Lafayette, 143, 145, 150; denounced 
by the revolutionary leaders in 
France, 154 ; his imprisonment and 
release, 155. 

LeBroche, Bathsheba, 47, 48. 

Leonard, Benjamin, 124 ; Daniel, ib. ; 
Samuel, ib. 

Love-story, 190. 

Lucas, Joanna, 46. 

M. 

Mann, Herman, author of " The Fe- 
male Review," xi. ; the younger, 
xiii. ; not always trustworthy, 104, 
121, 129, 136, 150, 153, 163, 168, 
179, 212, 225 ; borrows largely 
from Thacher's " Military Journal," 
143, 160, 175. 

May, Dorothy, 46. 

Mayflower, the, 45, 46. 

McFarland, Elijah, 48. 

Monmouth, battle of, xxx. 

Moore, Major Willard, fell at Bun- 
ker Hill, 94. 

Morrisania, 139. 

Morton, Marcus, xvii. 



Parker, Col. Moses, at Bunker Hil 

94. 
Parsons, P. xxi. 



INDEX. 



265 



Patterson, Gen., 133, 181, 217, 219 ; 

Deborah's sex disclosed to him, 

219-221 ; probably disclosed it to 

others, 229. 
Pension office, documents from, xv., 

xvii. 
Penthesilea, xxxi. 
Pomeroy, Gen. Seth, a volunteer at 

Bunker Hill, 90. 
Pratt, Rev. Stillman, xv,, 124; visits 

the residence and grave of Mrs. 

Deborah Gannett, 230. 
Prescott, Col. William, commands at 

Bunker Hill, 89. 
Putnam, Gen. Israel, at Bunker Hill, 

90. 

R. 

Report of a committee of Congress 
respecting Deborah Sampson, xx. 

Resolve of Legislature of Massachu- 
setts respecting Deborah Samp- 
son, xxiv., 249. 

Revival of religion in Middleborough, 
loi, 102. 

Rhoades, Benjamin, xxii. 

Robinson, Rev. John, of Leyden, 45. 
46. 

Rochambeau, Count, 144. 

S. 

Sampson, Abraham, 45 ; Ephraim, 
51, 225; Henry, 45; Isaac, 46; 
Jonathan, 46, 50. 

Sampson, Deborah, her story in 
brief, x., xi. When did she enlist ? 
xv., xviii., xxi., xxiii., xxv., xxix., 
136. Applies for a pension, xv., xvi. 
Obtains a pension, xvii., xix. A 
34 



pension granted to her heirs, xviii., 
xix. Report of the committee on 
Pensions relative to her case, xx.- 
xxiii. Her petition to the Legisla- 
ture of Massachusetts, xxiii. Re- 
solve of the Legislature, xxiv. 
Action of the church in Mid- 
dleborough on her case, xxviii. 
Her autograph, xxiv. Her char- 
acter, xxxii., 113, 228-231. Her 
pedigree, 45-48. Her childhood, 
52-59. Her home in childhood, 
59. Her thirst for knowledge, 
55, 60. Her slight opportunities, 
56-59. Her early training, 59, 61. 
Her interest in pubhc affairs, 76- 
yS, 94, 109, 117. Her remark- 
able dream, 79-84. Her girl- 
hood, 99. Teaches school, 100, 
250. Becomes interested in reH- 
gion, and joins the church, 102. Is 
excommunicated, xxviii. Dissatis- 
fied with home employments, 1 1 1 . 
Desires to travel, 113. Resolves 
to see the world, 114. A day- 
dreamer, id. First assumption of 
male attire, 114, 115. Visits a for- 
tune-teller, 115. Secretly prepares 
for her departure, 116. Resolves 
to enlist as a soldier, 117. Unre- 
quited affection of a young man 
for her, 121. First enlistment as 
a soldier, 124. Resumes female 
apparel, id. Her irresolution, 125. 
Final departure in male attire, 126. 
Fears discovery and pursuit, 127. 
Partial engagement as one of the 
crew of a privateer, 128. Final 
Enlistment, 129, 130. Arrives at 
West Point, 131, 136. Her milita- 
ry equipments, 133. • First en- 



2 66 



INDEX. 



counter with the enemy, 139. 
Wounded, 139. Campaign in Vir- 
ginia, 143-153. Her lover visits 
the camp in search of her, 161, 162. 
Her (supposed) letter to her moth- 
er, 163, 164. Another encounter 
with the enemy, 166. Wounded, 
167. Narrowly escapes the dis- 
covery of her sex, 168. Captures 
fifteen tories at Vantassel's house, 
174. Scouting parties, 175. In 
great danger, 176. Winter expe- 
dition to the head waters of the 
Hudson, 178-180. Gen. Schuyler, 
179. She becomes waiter to Gen. 
Patterson, 181. Cessation of hos- 
tilities, 182. Journey to the Clove, 
236. Bathing in the river, 184. 
Seized with malignant fever in 
Philadelphia, 187. Discovery of 
HER SEX, 189. A love-adventure, 
190. Interview with the inainorata, 
196, 199. Another interview, 212- 
214. Tour in the unsettled parts 
of Virginia, 200-212. Adventures 
with the Indians, 201. Kills an 
Indian, 206. In great danger, 206. 
Supposed reflections in immediate 
prospect of death, 208. Returns 
to Philadelphia, 215. Dr. Binney 
gives her a letter to Gen. Patter- 
son, disclosing her sex, 217. 
Narrowly escapes drowning in 
New- York Bay, 218. Arrives at 
West Point, 219. Her sex be- 
comes known to Gen. Patterson 
and Col. Jackson, 220-222. Her 
discharge from the army, 223. Re- 
turns to Massachusetts, 224. Her 
first winter after leaving the army, 



225. Her marriage, 227. Her sub- 
sequent history and death, ib. Her 
person described, ib. Appearance 
before the pubHc in Boston 
Theatre, 228. Mrs. Gannett in 
1820, 229. Obituary notice, 231. 
Grave-stone, 233. Further notices, 
235, 236, 247, 250. 



Scammell, Col. Alexander, 147. 
Schools in New England in 1780, 

100. 
Semiramis, xxxi. 
Shepard, Col. WilHam, xvi., xviii., 

xxi., xxiv. Account of him, 133. 
Siege of Boston, 87. Of Yorktown, 

147. 
Sing Sing, skirmish near, 139. 
Smith, Mrs., a heroine, xxx. 
Snow, Richard, sick, 171. Dies, 172. 
Southworth, Alice, 46. 
Sperin, Noble, killed, 141. 
Sproat, Earle, 124. 
Sproat, Col. Ebenezer, 140. 
Sproat, James, xxiv. 
Standish, Alexander, 46. Lydia, ib. 

Miles, ib. 
Swan, Mrs., of Boston, 142. 

T. 

Tarrytown, action at, xvi., xviii., xxi., 
xxiv., 138, 139, 169. 

Thacher, Dr. James, author of " The 
Military Journal," 142, 150, 151, 
153, 157, 159, "^IS^ 177, 182, 186, 
188. Mr. Mann borrows largely 
from him, 143, 160, 175. 

Thacher, Rev. Peter, 53. Rev. 
Thomas, ib. 



INDEX. 



267 



T. W. 

Thomas, Benjamin, 54. Anecdote of Warren, Gen. Joseph, at Bunker 

him, ib. His character, 61. Hill, 89, 94. 

Thomas, Jeremiah, 54. Waterloo, xxx. 

Thorp, Capt. Eliphalet, xxiv. His Webb, Capt. George, xvi., xviii., xxi., 

certificate, XX vi,, 131, 136. xxiv., 133. 

Treaty of Peace, 223. White Plains, 139. 

Tupper, Col. Benjamin, account of Wood, Israel, 124. 

him, 195. 

U. Y. 
Uxbridge, xxv., 130. 

v. 

Vantassel, a tory, 171, 173. 



" Yankee," origin of the term, 

151. 
Yorktown besieged, 147. Taken, 

152. 




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